Update on the effects of the sodium pump α1 subunit on human glioblastoma: from the laboratory to the clinic.

INTRODUCTION: Glioblastoma is a debilitating disease that is associated with poor prognosis and a very limited response to therapies; thus, molecularly targeted therapeutics and personalized therapy are urgently needed. The Na+/K+-ATPase sodium pump is a transmembrane protein complex that has recently been recognized as an important transducer and integrator of various signals. The sodium pump α1 subunit, which is highly expressed in most glioblastomas compared with that in normal brain tissues, is an emerging cancer target that merits further investigation. AREAS COVERED: The purpose of this narrative review is to explore the important roles of the sodium pump α1 subunit in glioblastoma and analyze its potential therapeutic applications. EXPERT OPINION: Expression of the sodium pump α1 subunit in glioblastoma tissues is generally higher than that in normal tissues. Sodium pump α1 subunit-mediated pivotal antiglioblastoma signaling pathways have been reviewed, and their impact on the sensitivity of glioblastoma cells to anticancer drugs has recently been clarified. In addition, various pharmacologically optimized sodium pump inhibitors have recently reached early clinical trials, and explorations of sodium pump α1 subunit inhibitors may hold promise for the development of stratification strategies in which patients are treated based on their isoform expression status.