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Updated: Jun 27, 2025

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

Published on: June 16, 2023

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ORAI Ca2+ Channels in Cancers and Therapeutic Interventions

Qian Zhang1, Chen Wang1, Lian He1

  • 1Department of Pharmacology, Joint Laboratory of Guangdong-Hong Kong Universities for Vascular Homeostasis and Diseases, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China.

Biomolecules
|April 27, 2024
PubMed

Insights

ORAI proteins are key to calcium signaling and implicated in cancer. This review covers ORAI

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • ORAI proteins form calcium-release-activated calcium (CRAC) channels, essential for calcium signaling.
  • Altered calcium homeostasis due to ORAI dysfunction is linked to immune disorders, myopathy, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer.
  • Targeting ORAI offers a strategy for modulating calcium signaling pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of ORAI proteins in cancer initiation and progression.
  • To highlight advanced techniques for modulating ORAI channel function.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on ORAI's role in cancer.
  • Overview of emerging modulation techniques including optogenetics, optochemistry, small molecules, and antibodies.

Main Results:

  • ORAI proteins play a significant role in the development and advancement of various cancers.
  • Novel strategies for ORAI modulation show promise for research applications.

Conclusions:

  • ORAI proteins are critical regulators of calcium signaling with implications in cancer.
  • Advanced modulation techniques offer new avenues for ORAI research and potential cancer therapeutics.
Keywords:
CRAC channelsORAIcancersoptogeneticsstore-operated Ca2+ entry

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