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©2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Clin Oncol. Oct 10, 2014; 5(4): 667-676
Published online Oct 10, 2014. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v5.i4.667
Published online Oct 10, 2014. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v5.i4.667
Acetylcholine receptor pathway in lung cancer: New twists to an old story
Xiao-Min Niu, Shun Lu, Department of Shanghai Lung Cancer Center, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
Author contributions: Both authors contributed to this paper.
Supported by Youth Foundation of Shanghai Municipal Public Health Bureau, No. 20124Y114; Shanghai Chest Hospital “1050 Talents Project”, China; and Project of Shanghai Chest Hospital, No. YZ13-16
Correspondence to: Shun Lu, MD, PhD, Department of Shanghai Lung Cancer Center, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 241 Huaihai West Road, Shanghai 200030, China. shun_lu@hotmail.com
Telephone: +86-21-62804970 Fax: +86-21-62804970
Received: December 28, 2013
Revised: April 17, 2014
Accepted: June 10, 2014
Published online: October 10, 2014
Revised: April 17, 2014
Accepted: June 10, 2014
Published online: October 10, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: Genome-wide association studies revealed that allelic variation in the α5-α3-β4 nicotine acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) cluster on chromosome 15q24-15q25.1 was associated with a higher risk for development of lung cancer. nAChRs are membrane ligand-gated cation channels whose activation is triggered by the binding of the endogenous neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) or other biologic compounds including nicotine. nAChRs have been found on lung cancer cells, underscoring the idea that the non-neuronal nAChR signaling pathway has considerable implications for lung cancer. Several studies involving the design of nAChR antagonists with improved selectivity might identify novel strategies for the treatment of lung cancer.