离子转运蛋白（ITPs）包括广泛的离子通道、交换体、泵和离子感受器，其中很多在肿瘤中表达，并动态地促进癌症的不同组成和不同阶段的过程，从起始到转移。在这个备受期待的生物医学研究领域中，已经出现了几个可行的临床候选ITPs。本文考虑了与电压门控钠通道作为“案例研究”的肿瘤学潜力有关的一系列一般问题。首先，我们概述了“癌症”作为一个整体的一些关键特性，包括表观遗传学、干性、转移、异质性、神经特征和生物电性。评估了ITP表达的肿瘤特异性，涉及组织限制、剪接变异、功能特异性和宏分子复合。在临床潜力方面，着重介绍了早期诊断的重要性。对于治疗，我们处理分子方法、药物再利用和联合使用。重要的是，我们强调了需要精心设计的临床试验。我们还强调了“社会责任”领域和需要使癌症研究专业人员以及临床医生涉及公众（癌症患者和健康个体）的需求。在建议患者如何最好地管理癌症并与之共存时，我们提供以下四个原则：意识和预防、早期发现、专业综合护理和心理支持。最后，我们强调了针对基于ITP的癌症技术商业化的四个关键先决条件。我们得出结论，ITPs在理解复杂的癌症过程和开发迫切需要的新疗法方面具有重要潜力。 © 2021. Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Ion transporting proteins (ITPs) comprise a wide range of ion channels, exchangers, pumps and ionotropic receptors many of which are expressed in tumours and contribute dynamically to the different components and stages of the complex cancer process, from initiation to metastasis. In this promising major field of biomedical research, several candidate ITPs have emerged as clinically viable. Here, we consider a series of general issues concerning the oncological potential of ITPs focusing on voltage-gated sodium channels as a 'case study'. First, we outline some key properties of 'cancer' as a whole. These include epigenetics, stemness, metastasis, heterogeneity, neuronal characteristics and bioelectricity. Cancer specificity of ITP expression is evaluated in relation to tissue restriction, splice variance, functional specificity and macro-molecular complexing. As regards clinical potential, diagnostics is covered with emphasis on enabling early detection. For therapeutics, we deal with molecular approaches, drug repurposing and combinations. Importantly, we emphasise the need for carefully designed clinical trials. We highlight also the area of 'social responsibility' and the need to involve the public (cancer patients and healthy individuals) in the work of cancer research professionals as well as clinicians. In advising patients how best to manage cancer, and live with it, we offer the following four principles: Awareness and prevention, early detection, specialist, integrated care, and psychological support. Finally, we highlight four key prerequisites for commercialisation of ITP-based technologies against cancer. We conclude that ITPs offer significant potential as regards both understanding the intricacies of the complex process of cancer and for developing much needed novel therapies.© 2021. Springer Nature Switzerland AG.