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TRP Channels Interactome as a Novel Therapeutic Target in Breast Cancer
María Paz Saldías1,2, Diego Maureira1,2, Octavio Orellana-Serradell1,2
1Program of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICBM), Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
Abstract:
Breast cancer is one of the most frequent cancer types worldwide and the first cause of cancer-related deaths in women. Although significant therapeutic advances have been achieved with drugs such as tamoxifen and trastuzumab, breast cancer still caused 627,000 deaths in 2018. Since cancer is a multifactorial disease, it has become necessary to develop new molecular therapies that can target several relevant cellular processes at once. Ion channels are versatile regulators of several physiological- and pathophysiological-related mechanisms, including cancer-relevant processes such as tumor progression, apoptosis inhibition, proliferation, migration, invasion, and chemoresistance. Ion channels are the main regulators of cellular functions, conducting ions selectively through a pore-forming structure located in the plasma membrane, protein-protein interactions one of their main regulatory mechanisms. Among the different ion channel families, the Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) family stands out in the context of breast cancer since several members have been proposed as prognostic markers in this pathology. However, only a few approaches exist to block their specific activity during tumoral progress. In this article, we describe several TRP channels that have been involved in breast cancer progress with a particular focus on their binding partners that have also been described as drivers of breast cancer progression. Here, we propose disrupting these interactions as attractive and potential new therapeutic targets for treating this neoplastic disease.
Insights
Breast cancer therapies can be improved by targeting ion channels. Disrupting interactions between Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channels and their binding partners offers a novel therapeutic strategy for breast cancer.
Area of Science:
- Oncology and Molecular Biology
- Cellular Physiology
Background:
- Breast cancer remains a leading cause of cancer deaths globally, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies beyond existing treatments like tamoxifen and trastuzumab.
- Ion channels regulate critical cellular processes implicated in cancer, including tumor progression, proliferation, and chemoresistance.
- The Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channel family is increasingly recognized for its role in breast cancer, with several members serving as potential prognostic markers.
Approach:
- This review examines the involvement of specific TRP channels in breast cancer progression.
- It highlights the protein-protein interactions of these TRP channels with known breast cancer drivers.
- The article proposes targeting these specific interactions as a novel therapeutic avenue.
Key Points:
- TRP channels are crucial regulators of cellular functions and are implicated in various aspects of breast cancer.
- Specific TRP channels and their binding partners are identified as key drivers of breast cancer progression.
- Interactions between TRP channels and their partners represent a promising target for new breast cancer therapies.
Conclusions:
- Disrupting TRP channel-binding partner interactions presents a potential new therapeutic strategy for breast cancer.
- Targeting these molecular interactions could offer a novel approach to combatting this multifaceted disease.
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