The role of Ca2+channels in oral squamous cell carcinoma development

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) arises from the mucosal epithelium and is the most common cancer of the oral cavity. There are few major oncogenic events that could be therapeutically targeted in OSCC; therefore, the identification of novel target factors based on the molecular mechanisms of the tumorigenesis of OSCC is required. Highlight: The extracellular matrix (ECM), a component of the tumor microenvironment, surrounds tumor cells, and it provides a scaffold for tumors. The ECM promotes tumor progression, and mechanical cues from increased ECM stiffness are involved in tumorigenesis. Recently, mechanosensitive ion channels have been identified as receptors for the ECM. Mechanosensitive ion channels respond to mechanical cues, alter intracellular signaling and affect tumor cell behavior such as cell proliferation. This review explores the role of the ECM and its receptors, mechanosensitive ion channels, and particularly Ca2+ channels. Conclusion: Mechanosensitive Ca2+ channels, Piezo-type mechanosensitive ion channel component 1 and transient receptor potential vanilloid 4, promote tumorigenesis of OSCC. We demonstrated that Ca2+ channels may represent novel molecular targets in OSCC.