A variety of studies have suggested that epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) may be important in the progression of cancer in patients through metastasis and/or therapeutic resistance. A number of pathways have been investigated in EMT in cancer cells. Recently, changes in plasma membrane ion channel expression as a consequence of EMT have been reported. Other studies have identified specific ion channels able to regulate aspects of EMT induction. The utility of plasma membrane ion channels as targets for pharmacological modulation make them attractive for therapeutic approaches to target EMT. In this review, we provide an overview of some of the key plasma membrane ion channel types and highlight some of the studies that are beginning to define changes in plasma membrane ion channels as a consequence of EMT and also their possible roles in EMT induction.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	Plasma membrane ion channels and epithelial to mesenchymal transition in cancer cells
Research Division:	Biomedical and Clinical Sciences
Research Group:	Clinical sciences
Research Field:	Medical genetics (excl. cancer genetics)
Objective Division:	Health
Objective Group:	Clinical health
Objective Field:	Clinical health not elsewhere classified
UTAS Author:	Azimi, I (Dr Iman Azimi)
ID Code:	124407
Year Published:	2016
Web of Science® Times Cited:	25
Deposited By:	Pharmacy
Deposited On:	2018-02-21
Last Modified:	2018-03-16
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