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©2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Biol Chem. Nov 26, 2014; 5(4): 429-436
Published online Nov 26, 2014. doi: 10.4331/wjbc.v5.i4.429
Published online Nov 26, 2014. doi: 10.4331/wjbc.v5.i4.429
P2X receptors: New players in cancer pain
Alessia Franceschini, Elena Adinolfi, Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, Section of Experimental Pathology, Oncology and Biology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Author contributions: Franceschini A and Adinolfi E wrote the manuscript.
Supported by Grants to Elena Adinolfi from the Italian association for Cancer research (MFAG11630), and from the Region Emilia Romagna (Young researchers funds, Bando Alessandro Liberati)
Correspondence to: Elena Adinolfi, PhD, Assistant Professor of Clinical Pathology Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, Section of Experimental Pathology, Oncology and Biology, University of Ferrara, Via Borsari, 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy. elena.adinolfi@unife.it
Telephone: +39-532-455445 Fax: +39-532-455351
Received: May 27, 2014
Revised: August 26, 2014
Accepted: September 16, 2014
Published online: November 26, 2014
Revised: August 26, 2014
Accepted: September 16, 2014
Published online: November 26, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: Cancer pain is an increasing emergency as the number of oncological patients and survivors tends to growth. Oncological patients will greatly benefit of new therapies combining anti-tumor effects with a reduction of pain perception. This review gives an overview of latest literature on P2X receptors role in tumor progression and different types of cancer pain. The potential of P2X receptors as therapeutic targets in tumor is also discussed.