  Department of Experimental Pathology and Oncology, University
of Firenze, Firenze, Italy. Cancer Research (Impact Factor:
8.65). 02/2004; 64(2):606-11. DOI:10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-03-2360
Source: PubMed  ABSTRACT The acquisition of the capacity to
invade surrounding tissues confers a more malignant phenotype to
tumor cells and is necessary for the establishment of
metastases. The understanding of the molecular mechanisms
underlying cell invasion in human solid tumors such as
colorectal cancers could provide not only more sensitive
prognostic analyses but also novel molecular targets for cancer
therapy. We report in this article that K(+) ion channels
belonging to the HERG family are important determinants for the
acquisition of an invasive phenotype in colorectal cancers. The
herg1 gene and HERG1 protein are expressed in many colon cancer
cell lines, and the activity of HERG channels modulates colon
cancer cell invasiveness. Moreover, the amount of HERG1 protein
expressed on the plasma membrane is directly re