STIM and ORAI proteins: crucial roles in hallmarks of cancer

Intracellular Ca(2+) signals play a central role in several cellular processes; therefore it is not surprising that altered Ca(2+) homeostasis regulatory mechanisms lead to a variety of severe pathologies, including cancer. Stromal interaction molecules (STIM) and ORAI proteins have been identified as critical components of Ca(2+) entry in both store-dependent (SOCE mechanism) and independent by intracellular store depletion and have been implicated in several cellular functions. In recent years, both STIMs and ORAIs have emerged as possible molecular targets for cancer therapeutics. In this review we focus on the role of STIM and ORAI proteins in cancer progression. In particular we analyze their role in the different hallmarks of cancer, which represent the organizing principle that describes the complex multistep process of neoplastic diseases.