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Piezo channels in tumors
Wenxin Zhang1,2,3, Liangliang Dai1,2,3, Honglei Shi4,5,6
1Department of Urology, Wujin Hospital Affiliated with Jiangsu University, Changzhou, 213004, China.
Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology
|April 11, 2026
Summary
Mechanical forces and Piezo channels are key in tumor progression and metastasis. Targeting these channels offers new avenues for cancer therapy and diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Biophysics
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Malignant tumors threaten global health, with progression influenced by genetic mutations and tumor microenvironment (TME) mechanical properties.
- Mechanical signals, including tissue stiffness and fluid pressure, are transmitted via mechanosensitive pathways, notably the Piezo channel family (Piezo1/Piezo2).
- Piezo channels mediate calcium influx and regulate critical cellular processes like proliferation, migration, and cancer stem cell-like transformation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the role of Piezo channels in mediating mechanical signals within the TME and their impact on tumor progression.
- To investigate the potential of Piezo channels as biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and prognosis.
- To examine emerging therapeutic strategies targeting Piezo channels for precision cancer therapy.
Main Methods:
- Review of literature on Piezo channel function in various cancer types.
- Analysis of Piezo1 expression patterns in different cancers (e.g., breast, esophageal, lung, colorectal, glioma, prostate).
- Investigation of Piezo1 activation by mechanical compression and its effect on circulating tumor cells (CTCs).
Main Results:
- Piezo1 is upregulated in several cancers, promoting tumor progression, but downregulated in lung cancer, enhancing malignancy.
- Mechanical compression activates Piezo1 in microvessels, promoting CTCs to acquire stem cell-like properties and increasing metastatic potential.
- Piezo channels are identified as crucial links between TME mechanical signals and cellular behavior, showing promise as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers.
Conclusions:
- Piezo channels are vital mediators of mechanical signals in the TME, influencing tumor progression and metastasis.
- Targeting Piezo channels presents a promising strategy for novel cancer therapies and diagnostic biomarkers.
- Further research is needed to address tissue specificity and drug selectivity for Piezo channel-targeted treatments.
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