Referenced in: none

Automatically associated channels: ClC4

Title: alpha7-Nicotinic receptor antagonists at the beginning of a clinical era for NSCLC and Mesothelioma?

Authors: Laura Paleari, Alfredo Cesario, Massimo Fini, Patrizia Russo

Journal, date & volume: Drug Discov. Today, 2009 Sep , 14, 822-36

PubMed link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19616116

Abstract
Of the human solid cancers, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) and Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (MPM) display a natural history supporting the concept that they develop from multiple preneoplastic pathways. Recently, new evidence suggested that nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors (nAChRs) play a significant role in lung cancer predisposition and natural history. This review is based on some translational research aimed at evaluating the potential therapeutic effect of nAChR antagonists on NSCLC and MPM. The background and rationale of this approach are based on the experimental observations that: (a) NSCLC and MPM cells express nAChRs and (b) the activation of these receptors by agonists, namely nicotine, inhibits apoptosis, whereas receptor antagonists have a pro-apoptotic effect.