Targeting Calcium Signalling in Malignant Mesothelioma

• Main Authors: Simona Martinotti, Mauro Patrone, Francesco Moccia, Elia Ranzato
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-11-01
• Series: Cancers
• Subjects: ca²⁺ channel; ca²⁺ toolkit; cancer; mesothelioma; signalling pathway
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/11/12/1839

Calcium ions (Ca²⁺) are central in cancer development and growth, serving as a major signaling system determining the cell's fate. Therefore, the investigation of the functional roles of ion channels in cancer development may identify novel approaches for determining tumor prognosis. Malignant mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that develops from the serosal surface of the body, strictly related to asbestos exposure. The treatment of malignant mesothelioma is complex and the survival outcomes, rather than the overall survival data are, to date, disappointedly daunting. Nevertheless, conventional chemotherapy is almost ineffective. The alteration in the expression and/or activity of Ca²⁺ permeable ion channels seems to be characteristic of mesothelioma cells. In this review, we explore the involvement of the Ca²⁺toolkit in this disease. Moreover, the established sensitivity of some Ca²⁺channels to selective pharmacological modulators makes them interesting targets for mesothelioma cancer therapy.