Channelopathies in Breast Cancer and Gynecological Cancers

Abstract

Increasing evidence shows that ion channels play a significant role in cell proliferation, migration, apoptosis and differentiation. Many research works in gynecological cancer suggest that ion channels are involved in aberrant tumor growth and upregulation or downregulation of ion channels results in tumor growth arrest. Channelopathies are a diverse set of inherited mutations of ion channels that result in altered biophysical properties. In normal cells, there is a switch between cell growth and cell death which apparently depend upon the temporal organization and magnitude of different ion channels. There is a need for specific ion channel blockers which can abrogate the cellular mechanism of the cancer cell. Typically the impact of ion channels on cancer depends upon the magnitude and temporal organization of the ion channel activation and the activity of other signaling mechanisms. Membrane proteins are responsible for ionic homeostasis in ion channels. As cancer can be linked with the altered biophysical properties of ion channels a border context of different ion channels in cancer seems absolutely appropriate. The field of onco-channelopathies is rapidly expanding and understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the development of cancer enables researchers to better diagnose and develop treatment options for cancer. This review focuses on the role of ion channels in breast cancer and other gynecological cancers including ovarian cancer and cervical cancer, and how they contribute to tumor development.