Emerging functions and clinical prospects of connexins and pannexins in melanoma

Cellular communication through gap junctions and hemichannels formed by connexins and through channels made by pannexins allows for metabolic cooperation and control of cellular activity and signalling. These channel proteins have been described to be tumour suppressors that regulate features such a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biochimica et biophysica acta. Reviews on cancer 2020-08, Vol.1874 (1), p.188380-188380, Article 188380
Main Authors: Varela-Vázquez, Adrián, Guitián-Caamaño, Amanda, Carpintero-Fernandez, Paula, Fonseca, Eduardo, Sayedyahossein, Samar, Aasen, Trond, Penuela, Silvia, Mayán, María D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antitumour immunity
Bystander effects
Connexin 43
Gap junctions
Hemichannels
Heterocellular communication
Melanoma
Microbiota
Pannexin 1
Tumour microenvironment
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Summary:Cellular communication through gap junctions and hemichannels formed by connexins and through channels made by pannexins allows for metabolic cooperation and control of cellular activity and signalling. These channel proteins have been described to be tumour suppressors that regulate features such as cell death, proliferation and differentiation. However, they display cancer type-dependent and stage-dependent functions and may facilitate tumour progression through junctional and non-junctional pathways. The accumulated knowledge and emerging strategies to target connexins and pannexins are providing novel clinical opportunities for the treatment of cancer. Here, we provide an updated overview of the role of connexins and pannexins in malignant melanoma. We discuss how targeting of these channel proteins may be used to potentiate antitumour effects in therapeutic settings, including through improved immune-mediated tumour elimination.
ISSN:0304-419X
1879-2561
DOI:10.1016/j.bbcan.2020.188380