Therapeutic potential of TRPM8 channels in cancer treatment

Front Pharmacol. 2023 Mar 22:14:1098448. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1098448. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

Cancer is a multifactorial process associated with changes in signaling pathways leading to cell cycle variations and gene expression. The transient receptor potential melastatin 8 (TRPM8) channel is a non-selective cation channel expressed in neuronal and non-neuronal tissues, where it is involved in several processes, including thermosensation, differentiation, and migration. Cancer is a multifactorial process associated with changes in signaling pathways leading to variations in cell cycle and gene expression. Interestingly, it has been shown that TRPM8 channels also participate in physiological processes related to cancer, such as proliferation, survival, and invasion. For instance, TRPM8 channels have an important role in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of prostate cancer. In addition, it has been reported that TRPM8 channels are involved in the progress of pancreatic, breast, bladder, colon, gastric, and skin cancers, glioblastoma, and neuroblastoma. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the role of TRPM8 channels in cancer progression. We also discuss the therapeutic potential of TRPM8 in carcinogenesis, which has been proposed as a molecular target for cancer therapy.

Keywords: TRPM8; TRPM8 pharmacology; cancer; molecular target; signaling pathway.

Publication types

  • Review

Grants and funding

Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, al Ministerio de Ciencia, tecnología e Innovación, al Ministerio de Educación Nacional, al Ministerio de Industria, Comercio y Turismo e ICETEX, 2ª Convocatoria Ecosistema científico – Colombia Científica 792-2017, Programa “Generación de alternativas terapéuticas en cáncer a partir de plantas a través de procesos de investigación y desarrollo traslacional articulados en sistemas de valor sostenibles ambiental y económicamente” (Contrato no. FP44842-221-2018). Vicerrectoría de Investigación, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Grant ID 7928 (Caracterización electrofisiológica de células pancreáticas obtenidas a partir de la diferenciación de células mesenquimales de pulpa dental).