Role of the voltage-gated sodium channels in the metastatic capacity of cancer cells

The functional expression of voltage-gated sodium channels (Na-V) in cancer cells is associated with an increase of metastatic potential. The activity of Na-V channels modulates different cellular processes related to the development of the malignant phenotype, such as adhesion, galvanotaxis, motility and invasiveness. Among the great diversity of cancerous phenotypes, Na-V channels expression is common in highly metastatic cells with their distribution following a primary tumor-specific pattern. The purpose of this paper is to review the literature, regarding to: the types of Na-V channels expressed by different types of cancer cells, the cancer cellular processes in which they play important roles, and the molecular mechanisms by which these channels promote metastasis.