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Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Screening Ion Channels in Cancer Cells
Published on: June 16, 2023
Muscarinic receptors and ligands in cancer
Nirish Shah1, Sandeep Khurana, Kunrong Cheng
1Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Univ. of Maryland School of Medicine, 22 South Greene St., N3W62, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
Abstract:
Emerging evidence indicates that muscarinic receptors and ligands play key roles in regulating cellular proliferation and cancer progression. Both neuronal and nonneuronal acetylcholine production results in neurocrine, paracrine, and autocrine promotion of cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and other features critical for cancer cell survival and spread. The present review comprises a focused critical analysis of evidence supporting the role of muscarinic receptors and ligands in cancer. Criteria are proposed to validate the biological importance of muscarinic receptor expression, activation, and postreceptor signaling. Likewise, criteria are proposed to validate the role of nonneuronal acetylcholine production in cancer. Dissecting cellular mechanisms necessary for muscarinic receptor activation as well as those needed for acetylcholine production and release will identify multiple novel targets for cancer therapy.
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