Potassium and Calcium Channel Complexes as Novel Targets for Cancer Research.

The intracellular Caconcentration is mainly controlled by Cachannels. These channels form complexes with Kchannels, which function to amplify Caflux. In cancer cells, voltage-gated/voltage-dependent Cachannels and non-voltage-gated/voltage-independent Cachannels have been reported to interact with Kchannels such as Ca-activated Kchannels and voltage-gated Kchannels. These channels are activated by an increase in cytosolic Caconcentration or by membrane depolarization, which induces membrane hyperpolarization, increasing the driving force for Caflux. These complexes, composed of Kand Cachannels, 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.