The complex between the beta1 integrin and hERG1 potassium channels as a new molecular target in antineoplastic therapy

Background: hERG1 channels are voltage dependent K+ channels oftenaberrantly expressed in primary human cancers. hERG1 channels exertpleiotropic effects in cancer cells, in turn regulating cell proliferation, cell motilityand invasiveness or stimulating the process of neo-angiogenesis. hERG1 caninduce such diverse effects in cancer cells since it triggers and modulatesintracellular signaling cascades. This role depends on the formation, on theplasma membrane of tumour cells, of macromolecular complexes with thebeta 1 subunit of integrin receptors. Therefore, the beta1 integrin/hERG1complex may represent a novel molecular target in antineoplastic therapy, andits molecular characterization can represent a very useful task in designingnovel antineoplastic therapies. ... ...