Chloride ion flows that enter the cells play an important role in the duplication of glioblastoma cells, a highly aggressive brain tumor. This is the finding of research recently published in the journal Molecular Cancer Research, led by research teams from SISSA (Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati) in collaboration with IOM-CNR, the University of Trieste, University Hospital of Udine, the University of Udine and GlioGuard S.r.l.. The study revealed that so-called “Calcium-dependent chloride ion channels”, which act like “gates” regulating chloride ion flows in and out of the cell, play a role in regulating tumor cell lines division and thus their proliferation. By using substances that block these flows, the research group demonstrated that it is possible to stop replication in tumor cells cultured in the laboratory. This result points to ion currents as a potential target for future therapeutic approaches.