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hERG1 potassium channel in cancer cells: a tool to reprogram immortality

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Abstract

It has been well established that changes in ion fluxes across cellular membranes as a function of time is fundamental in maintaining cellular homeostasis of every living cell. Consequently, dysregulation of ion channels activity is a critical event in pathological conditions of several tissues, including cancer. Nevertheless, the role of ion channels in cancer biology is still not well understood and very little is known about the possible therapeutic opportunities offered by the use of the vast collection of drugs that target ion channels. In this review, we focus on the recent advances in understanding the role of the voltage-gated hERG1 potassium channel in cancer and on the effects of pharmacologic manipulation of the hERG1 in cancer cells aiming to provide insights into the biochemical signaling and cellular processes that are altered by using these drugs.

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  1. Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, USA

    Saverio Gentile

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  1. Saverio Gentile
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Correspondence to Saverio Gentile.

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Special Issue: Ion Channels, Transporters and Cancer.

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Gentile, S. hERG1 potassium channel in cancer cells: a tool to reprogram immortality. Eur Biophys J 45, 649–655 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00249-016-1169-3

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