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Inhibition of the oncogenic channel Kv10.1 by the antipsychotic drug penfluridol

Paulina León-Sánchez1, Andrea Lizeth Cedillo-Hernández1, María Luisa Durán-Pastén1

  • 1Laboratorio Nacional de Canalopatías, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City, México.

Frontiers in Pharmacology
|September 19, 2025
PubMed

Insights

The antipsychotic drug penfluridol (PNFL) shows anticancer potential by inhibiting the Kv10.1 potassium channel. This discovery offers a new mechanism for PNFL

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Drug repurposing accelerates pharmaceutical development by finding new uses for existing drugs.
  • Oncology increasingly explores non-cancer drugs for anticancer potential.
  • The antipsychotic penfluridol (PNFL) exhibits antitumoral properties, but its mechanism is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mechanism behind penfluridol's (PNFL) antitumoral effects.
  • To test the hypothesis that PNFL inhibits the oncogenic potassium channel Kv10.1.

Main Methods:

  • Electrophysiological recordings to assess Kv10.1 channel activity.
  • Cell migration assays using HEK-Kv10.1 cells.

Main Results:

  • Penfluridol (PNFL) was confirmed to inhibit Kv10.1 channel activity.
  • PNFL significantly reduced cell migration in HEK-Kv10.1 cells.

Conclusions:

  • PNFL's inhibition of Kv10.1 represents a novel mechanism for its antitumoral effects.
  • This finding supports drug repurposing strategies in oncology.
Keywords:
Kv10.1 channelantipsychoticcarcinogenesisoncogenic channelpenfluridol

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