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  3. The calcium homeostasis in tumor and the mechanism involving progression and metastasis

The calcium homeostasis in tumor and the mechanism involving progression and metastasis

  • Cancer Lett. 2025 Oct 10:630:217908. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2025.217908.
Zhenpu Qin 1,  Yuqin Di 2,  Tianrong Ma 1,  Wei Zeng 3,  Xianzhi Liu 4,  Weiling He 5
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361000, China.
  • 2 Molecular Diagnosis and Gene Testing Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China.
  • 3 Department of Gastroenterology, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361000, China. Electronic address: weizeng2166@163.com.
  • 4 Department of Gastroenterology, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361000, China. Electronic address: liuxzh37@mail2.sysu.edu.cn.
  • 5 Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361000, China. Electronic address: wlhe@xah.xmu.edu.cn.
PMID: 40653190 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2025.217908
Abstract

Calcium ions (CA2+) act as important intracellular second messengers and play a key role in cellular physiological functions and signal transduction. CA2+ significantly affects the biological behavior of tumor cells by regulating mechanisms, such as Cytoskeleton reorganization, cell migration, invasion, and immune escape. Although research on calcium homeostasis in tumor progression and metastasis was historically limited, it has recently received widespread attention. Growing evidence indicates that the disruption of calcium homeostasis is closely linked to the development, invasion, and metastasis of tumors. This paper systematically reviews the mechanisms governing calcium homeostasis in tumor progression and metastasis. We focused on calcium channels, pumps, and their regulatory roles in ionic signaling networks, the tumor microenvironment, downstream signaling pathways, and immune escape. We also discussed therapeutic strategies targeting tumor progression and metastasis via the modulation of calcium homeostasis. By elucidating the role of calcium homeostasis in tumor metastasis, this review aims to provide a theoretical foundation and to identify potential targets for novel anti-metastatic strategies.

Keywords

Calcium ion homeostasis; Cell migration; Signaling pathway; Tumor metastasis; Tumor microenvironment.

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