The primary structure of native human type-1 voltage dependent
anion-selective channel/
porin was presented twenty years ago, so was first data on its extra-mitochondrial expression in cell membranes of lymphocytes. Then, the channel had already entered
cancer research as the docking molecule for
hexokinase at outer mitochondrial membrane. Cell membrane standing
porin met the
cancer field only four years ago, when it was reported that normal and cancerous prostate cells from a single patient differed in the expression level of the channel. Meanwhile studies on a role of VDAC in cell differentiation, apoptosis,
cancer and even pharmacology increase, mostly focused on
porin in the outer membrane of mitochondria, but sometimes also pointing to the channel in the plasmalemma, e.g.
prostate cancer cells on their way to neuroendocrine-differentiation. The synopsis presented discusses some recent papers on this issue, and argues in favor of considering voltage dependent
anion-selective channel-cored volume regulated
anion channel complexes in studies focused on apoptosis and
cancer, where the channel might be part of the extrinsic cell death pathway. In this context, heed should also be given to the interaction of extra-mitochondrial
porin and
estrogen receptors alpha in cell membrane caveolae. Finally, it is insinuated to search for natural
antibodies against type-1
porin, what in combination with other established markers might help in early diagnosis of
prostate cancer.