The sodium channel-blocking antiepileptic drug phenytoin inhibits breast tumour growth and metastasis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Voltage-gated Na(+) channels (VGSCs) are heteromeric protein complexes containing pore-forming α subunits and smaller, non-pore-forming β subunits. VGSCs are classically expressed in electrically excitable cells, e.g. neurons. VGSCs are also expressed in tumour cells, including breast cancer (BCa) cells, where they enhance cellular migration and invasion. However, despite extensive work defining in detail the molecular mechanisms underlying the expression of VGSCs and their pro-invasive role in cancer cells, there has been a notable lack of clinically relevant in vivo data exploring their value as potential therapeutic targets.

Findings

We have previously reported that the VGSC-blocking antiepileptic drug phenytoin inhibits the migration and invasion of metastatic

SUBMITTER: Nelson M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4320839 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature