Strengthening Cancer Cells to Boost Immune Cell Attacks: KCNMB1 Channel’s Role Identified

The 5-year survival rate for patients with metastatic breast cancer is less than 30%. A study found that activating the ion channel protein KCNMB1 to physically strengthen cancer cells makes them more vulnerable to attacks by immune cells. The researchers administered the BK channel agonist “BMS-204352” to an animal model of metastatic breast cancer. As a result, they observed a marked reduction in lung metastases and the restoration of T-cell ability to kill cancer cells. Data from actual patients with breast cancer also showed that patients with low KCNMB1 expression had shorter survival. Because ion channels are already an established class of drug targets, the findings are expected to facilitate translation into drug development.