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. In tumor infiltrating cells KCa3.1 activity is required to regulate their activation state. Interfering with KCa3.1 activity can be an adjuvant therapeutic approach in addition to classic chemotherapy, to counteract tumor growth and prolong patient's survival. In this mini-review we discuss the evidence of the functional roles of KCa3.1 channels in glioblastoma biology