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Related Concept Videos

Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

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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...
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Targets for Drug Action: Overview01:26

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Drugs target macromolecules to modify ongoing cellular processes. Primary drug targets include receptors, ion channels, transporters, and enzymes.
Receptors are either membrane-spanning or intracellular proteins, which upon binding a ligand, get activated and transmit the signal downstream to elicit a response. Drugs bind receptors, either mimicking the action of endogenous ligands or blocking the receptor activity to bring about a modified response. Nearly 35% of approved drugs target the G...
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Non-gated Ion Channels01:24

Non-gated Ion Channels

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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....
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Ion Channels01:19

Ion Channels

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The movement of ions like sodium, potassium, and calcium into and out of the cell is essential to maintain the electrochemical gradient in living cells. The ion channels—a class of membrane transport proteins—help maintain this ionic gradient for the smooth functioning of physiological activities such as maintaining cell size and volume, conducting nerve impulses, and gas and nutrient exchange.
Ion channels are specialized integral membrane proteins on the plasma membrane that allow...
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Mechanically-gated Ion Channels01:12

Mechanically-gated Ion Channels

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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...
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Voltage-gated Ion Channels01:26

Voltage-gated Ion Channels

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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...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 13, 2026

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

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Targeting Ion Channels for Cancer Therapy: From Pathophysiological Mechanisms to Clinical Translation.

Sha Zhou1, Xiong Song1, Weian Zeng1

  • 1Department of Anesthesiology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Centre for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China.

Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
|October 29, 2025
PubMed
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Ion channels are crucial in cancer development and progression. Targeting these channels offers a promising new strategy for precision oncology, with several therapies in clinical trials.

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Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Cancer is a leading cause of death globally, with conventional treatments facing limitations like toxicity and tumor heterogeneity.
  • Ion channels play critical roles in cancer cell proliferation, metastasis, and resistance to apoptosis.
  • Dysregulation of ion channels is linked to cancer aggressiveness and poor clinical outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advancements in ion channel-targeted cancer therapies.
  • To explore the mechanisms, clinical applications, and challenges of these novel treatments.
  • To examine the role of ion channels in tumor biology and their potential as predictive biomarkers.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent research on ion channels in cancer.
  • Analysis of the pathophysiological roles of ion channels in oncogenesis.
  • Evaluation of current and emerging ion channel-targeting agents and their clinical progress.

Main Results:

  • Ion channels significantly influence key cancer phenotypes, making them viable therapeutic targets.
  • Pharmacological modulation of ion channels demonstrates broad antitumor effects.
  • Several ion channel inhibitors are progressing through clinical trials for cancer treatment.

Conclusions:

  • Ion channel-targeted therapies represent a promising frontier in precision oncology.
  • Understanding ion channel function in cancer is crucial for developing effective treatments.
  • Ion channels may serve as valuable predictive biomarkers for cancer patient stratification.