Calcium and cancer: targeting Ca2+ transport.

Monteith, Gregory R; McAndrew, Damara; Faddy, Helen M; Roberts-Thomson, Sarah J · Nat Rev Cancer · 2007

review · Level V

Where this comes from

Abstract

Ca2+ is a ubiquitous cellular signal. Altered expression of specific Ca2+ channels and pumps are characterizing features of some cancers. The ability of Ca2+ to regulate both cell death and proliferation, combined with the potential for pharmacological modulation, offers the opportunity for a set of new drug targets in cancer. However, the ubiquity of the Ca2+ signal is often mistakenly presumed to thwart the specific therapeutic targeting of proteins that transport Ca2+. This Review presents evidence to the contrary and addresses the question: which Ca2+ channels and pumps should be targeted?

Medical subject headings