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Plasma membrane calcium pumps and their emerging roles in cancer

Sarah J Roberts-Thomson1, Merril C Curry, Gregory R Monteith

  • 1Sarah J Roberts-Thomson, Merril C Curry, Gregory R Monteith, School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.

World Journal of Biological Chemistry
|May 4, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Altered expression of plasma membrane calcium ATPase (PMCA) in cancer cells can promote tumor growth. Both increased and decreased PMCA levels may confer a growth advantage, depending on the cancer type and specific PMCA isoform.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular biology
  • Cancer research
  • Cellular physiology

Background:

  • Calcium signaling is crucial for cell function.
  • Aberrant calcium handling is observed in cancer cells.
  • Plasma membrane calcium ATPase (PMCA) isoforms play a role in calcium homeostasis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review studies on PMCA expression in various cancer types.
  • To discuss the implications of altered PMCA expression in cancer.
  • To explore how PMCA alterations may influence cancer cell growth and survival.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies investigating PMCA expression in cancer.
  • Analysis of data from cancer cell lines and clinical tumor samples.
  • Discussion of mechanisms linking PMCA alterations to cancer progression.

Main Results:

  • PMCA isoforms show altered expression (both increases and decreases) in diverse cancers, including breast and colon.
  • Alterations are often isoform-specific and vary between cancer types.
  • Studies are emerging on PMCA levels in clinical tumor samples and regulatory mechanisms.

Conclusions:

  • Altered PMCA expression is a common feature in cancer.
  • Both overexpression and reduced expression of PMCA isoforms can provide a growth advantage.
  • These alterations may enhance proliferative responses or reduce apoptosis sensitivity in cancer cells.
Keywords:
Calcium pumpCancerExpressionPlasma membrane calcium ATPaseTumorigenesis

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