IMPORTANCE OF THE FIELD: Oesophageal carcinoma ranks among the ten most frequent cancers worldwide. The special growing site and malignant nature make it difficult to be completely treated by surgical operation and radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Discovery of new therapeutic targets responsible for the rapid proliferation of oesophageal carcinoma cells could help to treat this disease. AREAS COVERED IN THIS REVIEW: Over the past two decades, studies have revealed a critical role of Ca(2+) channels in cancer cell proliferation. As non-selective cation channels, canonical transient receptor potential (TRPC) channels permeable to Ca(2+) are expressed in many types of tissues and are involved in the proliferation of cancer cells. The TRPC6 channel, a member of TRPC family, is highly expressed in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and is essential for cell proliferation and cell cycle. Inhibition of TRPC6 channels in human OSCC cells suppresses their proliferation and induces G2/M phase arrest. WHAT THE READER WILL GAIN: In this review, we discuss the possible roles of TRPC6 channels and Ca(2+) signaling in OSCC cell proliferation. Take home message: TRPC6 channels may be a novel therapeutic target for OSCC.
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