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Updated: Jan 8, 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

Published on: June 16, 2023

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Targeting ion channel dysregulation in tumors: emerging therapeutic opportunities

Weici Laurence Liu1, Xiaowen Xie2, Hanqing Chen3

  • 1Department of Thoracic Surgery, the Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi 214023, China.

Trends in Pharmacological Sciences
|December 21, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Tumor cells exhibit altered electrical properties due to ion channel issues, driving cancer progression. Targeting these ion channels offers a promising new therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Tumor cells possess unique electrophysiological characteristics, differing from normal cells.
  • Ion channel dysregulation and membrane potential depolarization are common in cancer.
  • These electrical abnormalities contribute to malignant traits like metastasis, immune evasion, and drug resistance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of ion channels in tumor progression.
  • To highlight therapeutic strategies targeting ion channel dysregulation in cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent studies on ion channels in cancer.
  • Analysis of ion channel families involved in tumor biology (potassium, sodium, calcium, chloride, TRP channels).
  • Summary of therapeutic approaches, including drug repurposing and novel technologies.

Main Results:

  • Ion channel dysregulation is implicated in key cancer hallmarks.
  • Various ion channel families play significant roles in tumor progression.
  • Ion channel modulators and external interference technologies show therapeutic potential.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting ion channel dysregulation is a viable therapeutic avenue in oncology.
  • Repurposed drugs and novel electrical modulation techniques represent promising cancer treatments.
Keywords:
electrical activityion channelion channel modulatorion homeostasismembrane potentialtumortumor-treating fields

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