Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 17, 2026
12:30
Monitoring ER/SR Calcium Release with the Targeted Ca2+ Sensor CatchER+
Published on: May 19, 2017
Calcium sensing receptor modulation for cancer therapy.
1IGNOU-I2IT Centre of Excellence for Advanced Education and Research, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention : APJCP
|October 27, 2012
Summary
The calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) plays a dual role in cancer, potentially promoting or preventing tumor growth. Understanding its function in gliomas is key to developing new cancer therapies.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- The calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) is a G protein-coupled receptor crucial for calcium homeostasis.
- CaSR's role in neoplasia is complex, with varied effects observed across different cancer types.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the multifaceted role of CaSR in gliomas and other malignancies.
- To emphasize the importance of understanding CaSR's mechanisms in tumor progression.
- To advocate for the development of novel therapeutic strategies targeting CaSR.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and analysis of existing research on CaSR in various cancers.
- Comparative analysis of CaSR's function in normal physiology versus neoplastic conditions.
- Identification of key pathways and interactions involving CaSR in tumor development.
Main Results:
- CaSR's function in cancer is context-dependent, acting as either a tumor suppressor or promoter.
- Loss of CaSR response is linked to colon and ovarian cancers.
- Increased parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) release, mediated by CaSR, is observed in breast, prostate, and Leydig cell cancers.
Conclusions:
- CaSR's diverse roles in cancer necessitate further investigation, particularly in gliomas.
- Targeting CaSR activity presents a promising avenue for developing novel anti-cancer drugs.
- Developing drug-targeting methods to modulate CaSR is fundamental for cancer therapy.
Related Concept Videos
01:16Calmodulin-dependent Signaling
Calmodulin (CaM) is a calcium-binding protein in eukaryotes that controls various calcium-regulated cellular processes. It has four calcium-binding sites that bind calcium to form the calcium-calmodulin ( Ca2+-CaM) complex. GPCR stimulation increases the calcium levels in the cells that bind to CaM and induces a conformational change.
The Ca2+-CaM complex does not have enzymatic activity by itself. Instead, the complex binds downstream target proteins, including membrane proteins or enzymes,...
The Ca2+-CaM complex does not have enzymatic activity by itself. Instead, the complex binds downstream target proteins, including membrane proteins or enzymes,...
01:15Receptor Downregulation in MVBs
Multivesicular bodies (MVBs) are mature endosomes that sort ubiquitinated proteins and then fuse with lysosomes to degrade the sorted proteins. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its receptor (EGFR) form a complex that can be internalized through endocytosis, sorted into an MVB, and later degraded.
The EGFR can initiate signaling pathways that lead to cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Overexpression of EGFR stimulates cells to proliferate. Excessive EGFR activation may...
The EGFR can initiate signaling pathways that lead to cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Overexpression of EGFR stimulates cells to proliferate. Excessive EGFR activation may...
02:57Targeted Cancer Therapies
The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
01:27Transducer Mechanism: Enzyme-Linked Receptors
Enzyme-linked receptors are cell-surface receptors acting as an enzyme or associating with an enzyme intracellularly. They make excellent drug targets. Drugs can bind to the extracellular ligand-binding domain or directly affect their enzymatic domain and alter their activity.
Major types that are helpful drug targets include:
Major types that are helpful drug targets include:
03:03mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
The mTOR pathway or the...
03:03mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
The mTOR pathway or the...