Intracellular Calcium Levels and Cell Fate in Cancer: Interplay between Senescence, Autophagy and Apoptosis

Dear Colleagues,

Intracellular calcium ion (Ca²⁺) levels play a pivotal role in the control of cell proliferation, differentiation, migration and death. The disruption of Ca²⁺ homeostasis has been shown to contribute to the development of malignant phenotypes. In this regard, a relevant role for non-selective cation-permeable channels localized in the plasma membrane, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria and lysosomes, has been clarified. Mutations, aberrant expression or changes in the cellular localization of ion channels have been associated with tumors through the modulation of cancer cell growth, metastatic ability, stemness, and acquisition of chemoresistance.

Cell fate choice is crucial for the acquisition of malignant phenotypes, and related to this, autophagy, senescence, and apoptosis seem to be interconnected in cancer development, playing roles in tumor initiation, progression, and response to anticancer therapies.

This Special Issue will present an overview of the latest research regarding tumor dependence on calcium-mediated autophagy, senescence, and apoptosis. We invite authors to submit original papers and reviews related to the roles played by cation channels in these three processes or in their cross-regulation in cancer, their involvement in carcinogenesis, as well as the discovery of new promising drug targets.

Dr. Consuelo Amantini
Dr. Valerio Farfariello
Dr. Maria Beatrice Morelli
Guest Editors

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