Over 90% of deaths in
cancer patients are attributed to
tumor drug resistance. Resistance to therapeutic agents can be due to an innate property of
cancer cells or can be acquired during
chemotherapy. In recent years, it has become increasingly clear that regulation of membrane
ion channels is an important mechanism in the development of chemoresistance. Here, we review the contribution of
ion channels in drug resistance of various types of
cancers, evaluating their potential in clinical management. Several molecular mechanisms have been proposed, including evasion of apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, decreased drug accumulation in
cancer cells, and activation of alternative escape pathways such as autophagy. Each of these mechanisms leads to a reduction of the therapeutic efficacy of administered drugs, causing more difficulty in
cancer treatment. Thus, targeting
ion channels might represent a good option for adjuvant
therapies in order to counteract chemoresistance development.