Ranolazine: a potential anti-metastatic drug targeting voltage-gated sodium channels

Abstract

Background: Multi-faceted evidence from a range of cancers suggests strongly that de novo expression of voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) plays a significant role in driving cancer cell invasiveness. Under hypoxic conditions, common to growing tumours, VGSCs develop a persistent current (I_NaP) which can be blocked selectively by ranolazine.

Methods: Several different carcinomas were examined. We used data from a range of experimental approaches relating to cellular invasiveness and metastasis. These were supplemented by survival data mined from cancer patients.

Results: In vitro, ranolazine inhibited invasiveness of cancer cells especially under hypoxia. In vivo, ranolazine suppressed the metastatic abilities of breast and prostate cancers and melanoma. These data were supported by a major retrospective epidemiological study on breast, colon and prostate cancer patients. This showed that risk of dying from cancer was reduced by ca.60% among those taking ranolazine, even if this started 4 years after the diagnosis. Ranolazine was also shown to reduce the adverse effects of chemotherapy on heart and brain. Furthermore, its anti-cancer effectiveness could be boosted by co-administration with other drugs.

Conclusions: Ranolazine, alone or in combination with appropriate therapies, could be reformulated as a safe anti-metastatic drug offering many potential advantages over current systemic treatment modalities.