Ion channels or aquaporins as novel molecular targets in gastric cancer

Abstract

Gastric cancer (GC) is a common disease with few effective treatment choices and poor prognosis, and has the second-highest mortality rates among all cancers worldwide. Dysregulation and/or malfunction of ion channels or aquaporins (AQPs) are common in various human cancers. Furthermore, ion channels are involved in numerous important aspects of the tumor aggressive phonotype, such as proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, motility, migration, and invasion. Indeed, by localizing in the plasma membrane, ion channels or AQPs can sense and respond to extracellular environment changes; thus, they play a crucial role in cell signaling and cancer progression. These findings have expanded a new area of pharmaceutical exploration for various types of cancer, including GC. The involvement of multiple ion channels, such as voltage-gated potassium and sodium channels, intracellular chloride channels, ‘transient receptor potential’ channels, and AQPs, which have been shown to facilitate the pathogenesis of other tumors, also plays a role in GC. In this review, an overview of ion channel and aquaporin expression and function in carcinogenesis of GC is presented. Studies of ion channels or AQPs will advance our understanding of the molecular genesis of GC and may identify novel and effective targets for the clinical application of GC.

Effects of extracellular medium conductivity on cell response in the context of sub-microsecond range calcium electroporation

“…Recently, it was also highlighted that ion channels are quite promising targets in anticancer protocols. Ion channels are responsible for numerous cellular processes and their expression varies in different types of cancers 26,27 . In our study, an increase of expression of water channels and mitochondrial VDAC1 was determined, which can significantly support the cytotoxic and anticancer effect caused by EP and CaEP.…”

“…In our study, an increase of expression of water channels and mitochondrial VDAC1 was determined, which can significantly support the cytotoxic and anticancer effect caused by EP and CaEP. The disruption of the channel functioning is an additional factor that may cause cell death 26,27 . Molecular dynamics study involving electropermeabilization effect on transmembrane water channels (aquaporins) demonstrated a significant effect of water self-diffusion during and immediately after the pulses 28 .…”

In-depth proteome analysis of more than 12,500 proteins in buffalo mammary epithelial cell line identifies protein signatures for active proliferation and lactation

“…A previous study did not detect AQP6 in bovine mammary gland 44 . Ion channels and aquaporins were reported to be involved in cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, and cell migration, in response to different stimuli 45,46 .…”

hERG1 is involved in the pathophysiological process and inhibited by berberine in SKOV3 cells

“…During past decades, a number of studies have demonstrated the association between the activity of ion channels and the progression of different types of cancer, and considerable achievements have been made in understanding the role of ion channels in cancer (7,40,41). hERG1 has been reported to exhibit oncogenic properties, is often aberrantly expressed in cancer and has essential roles in numerous crucial cellular events (15,16).…”