Combined targeted ion channel therapy: Can it be an alternative choice for esophageal cancer patients?

Esophageal cancer is a relatively common malignancy with a poor prognosis and is conventionally treated by surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. However, due to the prevalence of cancer relapse with treatment resistance, novel molecular targets must be identified for the development of alternative therapies. Emerging evidence indicates that ion channels play important roles in cell proliferation, migration, apoptosis and differentiation and could therefore be considered as a potential oncological therapy. Therapies that target single oncogenic channel have shown promise. However, therapies that target more than one ion channel have not been developed. We propose that therapies targeting more than one type of ion channel might be an alternative treatment for esophageal cancer.