Abstract
K+ Channels form the largest family among ion channels. Besides regulating many physiological functions, K+ channels, being aberrantly expressed in different types of tumors, affect several hallmarks of cancer. In cancer cells, K+ channel activity regulates cell proliferation, resistance to apoptotic cell death, tumor angiogenesis, invasiveness and metastatic spread. Moreover, being expressed in cells of the tumor microenvironment, K+ channels can also modulate the immune/inflammatory response which contributes to drive cancer establishment and progression. After almost 30 years of studies, some K+ channels are emerging as novel cancer biomarkers, to be employed to stratify patients for either prognostic or predictive purposes. Moreover, it is not remote the time in which it will be possible to target specific K+ channels in cancer for therapeutic purposes. One hindrance for applying a K+ channel-based therapy to cancer is the fact that K+ channel blockers can cause side effects, which often overlap with, but can mask, benefits. We here show some strategies to overcome harmful side effects caused by blocking K+ channels. Once taken into account these strategies, K+ channels may represent suitable and easily accessible cancer biomarkers and targets for therapy. The relevant patents related to K+ channels and cancer are discussed.
Keywords: Cancer biomarkers, cancer therapy, hallmarks of cancer, ion channel pharmacology, K+ channels, KV 11.1
Recent Patents on Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery
Title:Potassium Channels: Novel Emerging Biomarkers and Targets for Therapy in Cancer
Volume: 8 Issue: 1
Author(s): Massimo D’Amico, Luca Gasparoli and Annarosa Arcangeli
Affiliation:
Keywords: Cancer biomarkers, cancer therapy, hallmarks of cancer, ion channel pharmacology, K+ channels, KV 11.1
Abstract: K+ Channels form the largest family among ion channels. Besides regulating many physiological functions, K+ channels, being aberrantly expressed in different types of tumors, affect several hallmarks of cancer. In cancer cells, K+ channel activity regulates cell proliferation, resistance to apoptotic cell death, tumor angiogenesis, invasiveness and metastatic spread. Moreover, being expressed in cells of the tumor microenvironment, K+ channels can also modulate the immune/inflammatory response which contributes to drive cancer establishment and progression. After almost 30 years of studies, some K+ channels are emerging as novel cancer biomarkers, to be employed to stratify patients for either prognostic or predictive purposes. Moreover, it is not remote the time in which it will be possible to target specific K+ channels in cancer for therapeutic purposes. One hindrance for applying a K+ channel-based therapy to cancer is the fact that K+ channel blockers can cause side effects, which often overlap with, but can mask, benefits. We here show some strategies to overcome harmful side effects caused by blocking K+ channels. Once taken into account these strategies, K+ channels may represent suitable and easily accessible cancer biomarkers and targets for therapy. The relevant patents related to K+ channels and cancer are discussed.
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D’Amico Massimo, Gasparoli Luca and Arcangeli Annarosa, Potassium Channels: Novel Emerging Biomarkers and Targets for Therapy in Cancer, Recent Patents on Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery 2013; 8 (1) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1574892811308010053
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1574892811308010053 |
Print ISSN 1574-8928 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 2212-3970 |
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In recent years, traditional cancer treatments, such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation treatment, etc., may damage the pathological tissue and normal cells. The ideal tumor treatment should be noninvasive, eliminating the primary tumor, making the body produce systemic tumor-specific immunity, eliminating metastases, and having less /no side effects. Recent Patents ...read more
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