The concentration of sodium ions (Na⁺) is raised in solid tumours and can be measured at the cellular, tissue and patient levels. At the cellular level, the Na⁺ gradient across the membrane powers the transport of H⁺ ions and essential nutrients for normal activity. The maintenance of the Na⁺ gradient requires a large proportion of the cell’s ATP. Na⁺ is a major contributor to the osmolarity of the tumour microenvironment, which affects cell volume and metabolism as well as immune function. Here, we review evidence indicating that Na⁺ handling is altered in tumours, explore our current understanding of the mechanisms that may underlie these alterations and consider the potential consequences for cancer progression. Dysregulated Na⁺ balance in tumours may open opportunities for new imaging biomarkers and re-purposing of drugs for treatment.

钠离子 (Na ⁺ ) 的浓度在实体瘤中升高，可以在细胞、组织和患者水平上进行测量。在细胞水平上，跨膜的 Na ^{+梯度为 H +}离子和正常活动所必需的营养物质的运输提供动力。^{Na +}梯度的维持需要细胞的大部分 ATP。Na ⁺是肿瘤微环境渗透压的主要贡献者，它影响细胞体积和代谢以及免疫功能。在这里，我们回顾了表明 Na ⁺处理在肿瘤中发生改变，探索我们目前对可能构成这些改变的机制的理解，并考虑癌症进展的潜在后果。肿瘤中失调的 Na ⁺平衡可能为新的成像生物标志物和重新利用治疗药物开辟机会。