Voltage-gated sodium channels, sodium transport and progression of solid tumours.

Sodium (Na) concentration in solid tumours of different origin is highly dysregulated, and this corresponds to the aberrant expression of Na transporters. In particular, the α subunits of voltage gated Na channels (VGSCs) raise intracellular Na concentration ([Na]) in malignant cells, which influences the progression of solid tumours, predominantly driving cancer cells towards a more aggressive and metastatic phenotype. Conversely, re-expression of VGSC β subunits in cancer cells can either enhance tumour progression or promote anti-tumourigenic properties.