Oncochannels

A hallmark of tumour cells is an aberrant expression of ion channels. Research of the recent years clearly indicates that the change in the “channelome” that accompanies tumourigenesis is not just an epiphenomenon of neoplastic transformation. This is deduced from the fact that experimental interference with the channelome often impairs survival, proliferation, malignant progression, invasive behaviour, or therapy resistance of the tumour cells. Rather, the channelome of the tumour cell does induce onogenic processes and keeps them running. The involved ion channels are often overexpressed in several tumour entities suggesting their high oncogenic potency. The present review article aims to summarize our current knowledge on these “oncochannels”, how they crosstalk within the signalling of a tumour cell and how they exert their oncogenic function.