Orai1 as New Therapeutic Target for Inhibiting Breast Tumor Metastasis

摘要

The major cause of death of cancer patients is tumor metastasis, that is, the spreading of tumors from the primary site to secondary sites. Thus development of drugs targeting this spreading process is desirable. Cell migration is one of the key steps in tumor spreading. Therefore it is very likely that inhibitors of cell migration can block tumor metastasis. Orai1 and STIM1 proteins have been recently identified to be involved in calcium influx from the extracellular environment to the inside of cells. We show here that Orai1 and STIM1 are required for tumor cell migration, invasion and tumor metastasis. Hence, Orai1 and STIM1 are potential targets for therapeutic intervention to inhibit tumor metastasis.