Voltage-gated ion channels, new targets in anti-cancer research

Abstract

Cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality in the world. This is a complex disease involving many steps with proper signalling pathways. Early detection and treatment of cancers have increased survival and improved clinical outcome. However, novel strategies based on new interesting targets are needed to improve the conventional treatments. A few years ago, it appeared that some particular transmembrane proteins, ion channels, may be involved in the development of the disease. Since then, their role in cancer cell properties such as proliferation, migration and invasion begins to be unravelled. These proteins have been widely studied in non cancerous cells as well as in pathologies involving excitable cells and thus, their pharmacology are quite well known. In this review, we summarize the present knowledge about the role of different ion channels in some aspects of the development of tumours, mainly proliferation, migration and invasion. A particular emphasis is done on promising new patents.