Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 25, 2026

Author Spotlight: Exploring the Role of Ion Channels in Cancer: Characterization and Potential Treatment Approaches
06:19

Author Spotlight: Exploring the Role of Ion Channels in Cancer: Characterization and Potential Treatment Approaches

Published on: June 16, 2023

3.9K

Voltage-gated calcium channels: Novel targets for cancer therapy

Nam Nhut Phan1, Chih-Yang Wang2,3,4, Chien-Fu Chen5

  • 1Faculty of Applied Sciences, Ton Duc Thang University, Tan Phong Ward, Ho Chi Minh 700000, Vietnam.

Oncology Letters
|August 8, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) are downregulated in many cancers, including brain, breast, kidney, and lung. This suggests VGCCs may be potential therapeutic targets for cancer treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) are crucial for cellular functions like proliferation and apoptosis.
  • Previous studies suggest a link between VGCCs, reduced proliferation, and increased apoptosis in prostate cancer cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate alterations in mRNA expression levels of VGCCs across 19 cancer subtypes.
  • To identify potential cancer-specific VGCC targets for novel therapeutic strategies.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the Oncomine clinical database to analyze mRNA expression data.
  • Compared VGCC gene expression in various cancer types against normal tissues.

Main Results:

  • VGCC family genes were found to be significantly underexpressed in multiple cancers, including brain, breast, kidney, and lung.
  • Specific VGCC subtypes (e.g., CACNA1C, CACNA1D, CACNA1A) showed marked downregulation in brain, breast, kidney, and lung tumors.

Conclusions:

  • The observed downregulation of VGCCs in various cancers highlights their potential role in tumorigenesis.
  • Identifying specific downregulated VGCCs offers promising avenues for developing targeted cancer therapies.
Keywords:
Oncominecancermeta-analysispotential biomarkerunder-expressionvoltage-gated calcium channels

More Related Videos

Single-Cell Calcium Imaging for Studying the Activation of Calcium Ion Channels07:17

Single-Cell Calcium Imaging for Studying the Activation of Calcium Ion Channels

Published on: December 13, 2024

1.9K
A Kinetic Fluorescence-based Ca2+ Mobilization Assay to Identify G Protein-coupled Receptor Agonists, Antagonists, and Allosteric Modulators07:41

A Kinetic Fluorescence-based Ca2+ Mobilization Assay to Identify G Protein-coupled Receptor Agonists, Antagonists, and Allosteric Modulators

Published on: February 20, 2018

9.6K

Related Concept Videos

Voltage-gated Ion Channels01:26

Voltage-gated Ion Channels

Voltage-gated ion channels are transmembrane proteins that open and close in response to changes in the membrane potential. They are present on the membranes of all electrically excitable cells such as neurons, heart, and muscle cells.
Generally, all voltage-gated ion channels have a 'voltage-sensing domain' that spans the lipid bilayer. The charged residues in the sensor move in response to the membrane potential changes that open the channel allowing ions movement. There are several types of...
11.4K
Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism01:30

Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism

Ligand-gated ion channels are transmembrane proteins that play a vital role in intercellular communication and functions of the nervous system. They allow the influx of ions across the membrane once the neurotransmitter binds, allowing the subsequent transmission of electrical excitation across the neurons. Other ligand-gated ion channels, like the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor, permit anions like chloride into the cells on the binding of the GABA molecule. Their entry into the cell...
4.3K
Non-gated Ion Channels01:24

Non-gated Ion Channels

Ion channels are specialized proteins on the plasma membrane that allow charged ions to pass down their electrochemical gradient. Their main function is to maintain the membrane potential which is critical for cell viability. These channels are either gated or non-gated and can transport more than a thousand ions within milliseconds for the cellular event to occur.
Compared to the gated ion channels, the non-gated channels, also known as leakage or passive channels, have no gating mechanism....
8.4K
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted 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...
9.0K
Mechanically-gated Ion Channels01:12

Mechanically-gated Ion Channels

Mechanically-gated ion channels are proteins found in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell membranes that open in response to mechanical stress. Tension, compression, swelling, and shear stress can alter the conformation of the protein, opening a transmembrane channel that allows the passage of ions for signal transmission. In eukaryotes, mechanically-gated channels are distributed in several regions like the neurons, lungs, skin, bladder, and heart, where they play critical roles in numerous...
7.9K
Cancer Vaccines01:30

Cancer Vaccines

Cancer treatment vaccines are a rapidly evolving field that offers a promising approach to immunotherapy. Unlike traditional vaccines that prevent diseases, cancer treatment vaccines are designed to treat existing cancers by stimulating the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells.
Cancer vaccines come in two categories: preventive (prophylactic) and treatment (active). Preventive vaccines, such as the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, protect against viruses that cause certain...
1.2K