In the present study the role of T-type Ca2+ channels in cancer cell proliferation was examined. Seventeen human esophageal cancer celllines were screened for T-type channels using RT-PCR and voltage-clamp recordings. mRNAs for all three T-type channel α1-subunits (α1G,α1H, and α1I) were detected in all 17 cell lines: either α1H alone, α1H and α1G, or all three T-type α1-subunits. Eleven cell lines were furthersubjected to voltage-clamp recordings: one, i.e. the TE8 cell line, was found to exhibit a typical T-type current while others exhibited aminimal or no T-type current. Cell proliferation assays were performed in the presence or absence of T-type channel blocker mibefradil inKYSE150, KYSE180 and TE1 cells expressing mRNA for T-type channel α1-subunits but lacking T-type current, and TE8 cells exhibitingT-type current. Only TE8 cell proliferation was reduced by mibefradil. Silencing the α1G-gene that encodes functional T-type Ca2+ channelsin TE8 cells with type-specific shRNA transduction also significantly decreased TE8 cell proliferation. The reduction of cell proliferation inTE8 cells was found to be associated with an up-regulation of p21CIP1. Moreover, p53 silencing nearly abolished the up-regulation of p21CIP1resulting from mibefradil T-type channel blockade. Together, these findings suggest a functional role of T-type channels in certain esophagealcarcinomas, and that inhibition of T-type channels reduces cell proliferation via a p53-dependent p21CIP1 pathway.