Effect of Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel Inhibitors on the Metastatic Behavior of Prostate Cancer Cells: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Background and Objective: Functional Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels (VGSCs) are expressed in metastatic prostate cancer (PCa) cells. A number of in vitro studies have evaluated the effect of functional VGSC expression on the metastatic cell behavior of PCa cells. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of VGSC inhibition on metastatic cell behavior in PCa cells by meta-analysis. Materials and Methods: Meta-analysis was performed on data taken from 13 publications that examined the effect of VGSC inhibitors on the metastatic cell behavior of metastatic PCa cells expressing functional VGSCs. The measure of effect was calculated according to the random effects model using mean differences and presented with a forest plot graph. Heterogeneity was checked using the Cochran’s Q Test (Chi-square statistic) and the I2 test statistic. In order to evaluate the objectivity, the funnels-plot graph was used. Results: The g value showing the effect size was calculated as 4.49 (95% CI = 5.35-3.62) in the experiments where Tetrodotoxin (TTX) was used, which has a very high specificity for VGSCs but is not licensed for clinical use. In experiments using licensed inhibitors Lamotrigine, Oxcarbazepine, Phenytoin, Ranolazine, Riluzole and Lidocaine, the g value was 1.37 (95 % CI = 2.02-0.71). Suppression of metastatic cell behavior in both subgroups is statistically significant (p<0.00001). Conclusion: Meta-analysis confirmed that VGSCs are an enhancing factor in the metastasis of PCa cells. The VGSCs appear to be an important target in the diagnosis and development of new treatment options in PCa. © 2023 Senay Yildirim-Kahriman.