Plasma membrane ion channels and epithelial to mesenchymal transition in cancer cells.
A variety of studies have suggested that epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) may be important in the progression of cancer in patients through metastasis and/or therapeutic resistance. A number of pathways have been investigated in EMT in cancer cells. Recently, changes in plasma membrane ion channel expression as a consequence of EMT have been reported. Other studies have identified specific ion channels able to regulate aspects of EMT induction. The utility of plasma membrane ion channels as targets for pharmacological modulation make them attractive for therapeutic approaches to target EMT. In this review, we provide an overview of some of the key plasma membrane ion channel types and highlight some of the studies that are beginning to define changes in plasma membrane ion channels as a consequence of EMT and also their possible roles in EMT induction.
The School of PharmacyThe University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.|Mater Research InstituteThe University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.|Translational Research InstituteBrisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Iman
I
Azimi
The School of PharmacyThe University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia gregm@uq.edu.au.|Mater Research InstituteThe University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.|Translational Research InstituteBrisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Gregory R
GR
Monteith
D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
D007473:Ion Channels
calcium; cell signalling; intracellular signalling; metastasis