Characterisation of sodium transport as a novel biomarker of aggression in colon cancer specimens

Some cancers have high levels of sodium, suggesting that sodium might be an important biomarker or even a therapeutic target. There are many pathways through which sodium can enter cells. A number of these “channels” are known to be altered on cancer cells. This altered activity may contribute to the high sodium levels seen in tumours. In turn, these high sodium levels may help cancers to grow and invade. We have found that sodium channels are present on breast cancer cells where they help tumours to grow and spread in mice. The goal of this project is to investigate whether these channels are also functional on colon cancer cells taken from patients at York hospital. We will monitor sodium currents through these channels using an electrophysiological technique called patch clamp recording. By understanding the function of sodium channels in colon cancer cells, we should be able to design novel treatments.