Dysregulated intracellular Ca²⁺ signaling is associated with the development of malignant phenotypes. Cancer cells remodel their Ca²⁺ signaling apparatus to enhance proliferation, to increase cell motility and invasion, to resist apoptosis, to escape from immune-attack, or to have neovascularization. There has been an increasing awareness that tumorigenic pathways are associated with altered expression or abnormal activation of Ca²⁺ channels, transporters or Ca²⁺-pumps. Targeting the altered Ca²⁺ signaling apparatus to develop new anti-cancer drugs is emerging, yet many challenges remains. Intracellular Ca²⁺ homeostasis plays important role in normal physiology and cell functions; thus, it is important to identify the cancer specific properties of the Ca²⁺ apparatus. Different cancers or different stages during tumor development may present distinct different alteration in Ca²⁺ signaling apparatus. More specific, more potent and less off-target compounds targeting Ca²⁺ channels/transporters/pumps are urgently needed.
This special issue will highlight the current state of diverse molecular mechanisms of intracellular Ca²⁺ involved in cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion, or angiogenesis in different cancers. It will also discuss developing effective novel cancer treatment targeting Ca²⁺ channels, transporters or Ca²⁺-pumps.

Keywords: calcium channels; cell proliferation; apoptosis; migration; metastasis; transcription factors; chemotherapy