Functional roles of the Ca2+-activated K+ channel, KCa3.1, in brain tumors
Glioblastoma is the most aggressive and deadly brain tumor, with low disease-free period even after surgery and combined radio and chemotherapies. Among the factors contributing to rapid tumor growth in the brain are the elevated proliferation and invasion rate, and the ability to induce a local immunosuppressive environment. The intermediate-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channel KCa3.1 is expressed on glioblastoma cells and in tumor-infiltrating cells. In tumor cells, the functional expression of KCa3.1 is important to modulate cell invasion and proliferation.