The role of ion channels and transporters in cell proliferation and cancer

After the early wavering steps tracing back to at least the 1960's (Cone, 1974; Binggeli and Cameron, 1980), the study of ion transport in cell proliferation and neoplasia is on its way to become a mature research field (Arcangeli et al., 2009). Wide evidence is now available about the regulatory roles exerted by ion channels and transporters on the cell cycle phases (Becchetti, 2011) and other aspects of cell physiology that shape the multistep neoplastic progression, such as resistance to apoptosis (Lehen'kyi et al., 2011), cell invasiveness (Becchetti and Arcangeli, 2010), and angiogenesis (Fiorio Pla et al., 2012). Ion transport is implicated in these cell functions in many ways, from the classic mechanisms relating membrane potential (Vm) to Ca2+ homeostasis, to the control of pH, cell volume, growth factor release, interaction with the extracellular matrix, and so forth. Some of these actions probably occur through non-conductive mechanisms, such as intrinsic enzyme activity or conformational coupling with other membrane proteins (e.g., Arcangeli and Becchetti, 2006; Hegle et al., 2006). A major function of ion channels is to mediate the cell interaction with its environment. In the case of cancer cells, the interaction with the tumor milieu' has relevant implications for therapy (Arcangeli, 2011). The Research Topic Issue on Ion Transport in Cell Cycle and Cancer addresses classic issues in the field as well as it points to novel perspectives.