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Updated: Dec 6, 2025

Real-time Live-cell Flow Cytometry to Investigate Calcium Influx, Pore Formation, and Phagocytosis by P2X7 Receptors in Adult Neural Progenitor Cells
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Real-time Live-cell Flow Cytometry to Investigate Calcium Influx, Pore Formation, and Phagocytosis by P2X7 Receptors in Adult Neural Progenitor Cells

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P2X7 is a cytotoxic receptor….maybe not: implications for cancer

Francesco Di Virgilio1

  • 1Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy. fdv@unife.it.

Purinergic Signalling
|October 4, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Extracellular ATP in tumors impacts cancer and immune cells via P2X7 receptors. Its breakdown to adenosine creates an immunosuppressive environment, a key finding influenced by purinergic research.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cancer Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • The tumor microenvironment (TME) contains high levels of extracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
  • ATP influences cancer cell behavior and immune cell responses through purinergic receptors, particularly P2X7.
  • Adenosine, a potent immunosuppressant, is generated from ATP degradation in the TME.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To appraise the influence of Geoff Burnstock's purinergic hypothesis on cancer research.
  • To highlight the critical role of the P2X7 receptor in cancer immunity.
  • To discuss the author's own research inspired by purinergic signaling.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on purinergic signaling in cancer.
  • Analysis of experimental findings related to P2X7 receptor function.
  • Personal reflection on research trajectory influenced by purinergic concepts.

Main Results:

  • Extracellular ATP and its metabolite adenosine significantly modulate the TME.
  • The P2X7 receptor is a key mediator of ATP's effects on cancer and immune cells.
  • Purinergic signaling provides a framework for understanding TME complexity.

Conclusions:

  • Geoff Burnstock's purinergic hypothesis has been instrumental in advancing cancer research.
  • Targeting the P2X7 receptor presents a potential therapeutic strategy in oncology.
  • Understanding purinergic pathways is crucial for developing novel cancer immunotherapies.
Keywords:
ATPBurnstockCancerP2X7Purinergic signalingTumor microenvironment

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