The calcium-signaling toolkit in cancer: Remodeling and targeting

Abstract

Processes that are important in cancer progression, such as sustained cell growth, invasion to other organs, and resistance to cell death inducers, have a clear overlap with pathways regulated by Ca2+ signaling. It is therefore not surprising that proteins important in Ca2+ signaling, sometimes referred to as the “Ca2+ signaling toolkit,” can contribute to cancer cell proliferation and invasiveness, and the ability of agents to induce cancer cell death. Ca2+ signaling is also critical in other aspects of cancer progression, including events in the tumor microenvironment and processes involved in the acquisition of resistance to anticancer therapies. This review will consider the role of Ca2+ signaling in tumor progression and highlight areas in which a better understanding of the interplay between the Ca2+-signaling toolkit and tumorigenesis is still required.