Potassium and Calcium Channel Complexes as Novel Targets for Cancer Research

• Published in: Reviews of Physiology Biochemistry and Pharmacology
• Main Authors: Potier-Cartereau, Marie, Raoul, William, Weber, Günther, Mahéo, Karine, Rapetti-Mauss, Raphaël, Gueguinou, Maxime, Buscaglia, Paul, Goupille, Caroline, Le Goux, Nelig, Abdoul-Azize, Souleymane, Lecomte, Thierry, Fromont, Gaëlle, Chantôme, Aurélie, Mignen, Olivier D, Soriani, Olivier, Vandier, Christophe
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Springer Verlag 2022
• Subjects: Cancer; Cellular Biology; Life Sciences; LL-37; STIM; Ca2+ channels; SIGMAR1; K+ channels; Lipids; Cancer
• ISSN: 0303-4240; 1433-0474
• DOI: 10.1007/112_2020_24

The intracellular Ca2+ concentration is mainly controlled by Ca2+ channels. These channels form complexes with K+ channels, which function to amplify Ca2+ flux. In cancer cells, voltage-gated/voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels and non-voltage-gated/voltage-independent Ca2+ channels have been reported to interact with K+ channels such as Ca2+-activated K+ channels and voltage-gated K+ channels. These channels are activated by an increase in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration or by membrane depolarization, which induces membrane hyperpolarization, increasing the driving force for Ca2+ flux. These complexes, composed of K+ and Ca2+ channels, are regulated by several molecules including lipids (ether lipids and cholesterol), proteins (e.g. STIM), receptors (e.g. S1R/SIGMAR1), and peptides (e.g. LL-37) and can be targeted by monoclonal antibodies, making them novel targets for cancer research.