Fig. 1From: Purinergic signalling pathway: therapeutic target in ovarian cancerGeneral outline of purinergic signalling in ovarian cancer. In a tumour cell, ATP is released into the extracellular milieu either through connexion or pannexin hemichannel or by ABC (ATP binding cassette) transporter proteins. Presence of ATP in the extracellular milieu activates the P2X and P2Y purinergic signalling cascade. Extracellular ATP is soon hydrolysed by ectonucleotidases CD39 (conversion of ATP/ADP to AMP) and CD73 (conversion of AMP to adenosine) generate adenosine; it will activate the purinergic P1 adenosine receptors. This extracellular adenosine is transported into the cell through nucleoside transporter proteins. P2X purinoceptor is activated by the presence of ATP and that of P2Y purinoceptor is activated by the presence of ATP, UTP, ADP, UDP and UDP-GLUCOSEBack to article page