An essential protein that acts as a gatekeeper for calcium entering cells promotes the growth of oral cancer and generates pain, according to a new study published in Science Signaling led by researchers at NYU College of Dentistry.
Targeting this protein-;the ORAI1 calcium channel-;could provide a new approach to treating oral cancer, which causes persistent pain that worsens as it progresses.
"Calcium entering cells is necessary for many good things, but too much calcium for a long time has the opposite effect." Less ORAI1, less cancer growth and pain The researchers first analyzed tissue samples from human oral cancer tumors and healthy tongues. They found that the ORAI1 gene, which contains instructions for creating the ORAI1 calcium channel, was heavily overexpressed in the tumors but not in healthy tissue.
"These findings demonstrate an important role for ORAI1 in oral cancer progression and pain, but what is the mechanism? We wondered if MMP1 could be the messenger relaying pain," said Lacruz. The researchers also ran experiments with abnormal but non-cancerous cells. When they overexpressed the ORAI1 gene in these non-invasive cells, they became invasive, raising the possibility that ORAI1 could play a role in cells switching from non-cancerous to cancerous cells.
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