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Updated: Dec 24, 2025

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Published on: August 24, 2021
Emerging links between endosomal pH and cancer
Myungjun Ko1,2, Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa3, Rajini Rao4
1Department of Physiology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 725 N. Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
Altering endosomal pH, particularly via sodium-hydrogen exchangers (NHE), influences cancer growth and treatment response. Targeting endosomal pH offers a novel therapeutic strategy for various cancers.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Medicine
Background:
- Extracellular acidification is a known factor in cancer development.
- The role of endosomal pH in cancer is an emerging and under-explored area.
- Endosomes regulate cellular communication and protein trafficking, impacting cancer progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the link between endosomal pH and cancer malignancy.
- To highlight the function of endosomal sodium-hydrogen exchangers (NHE) in cancer.
- To explore the therapeutic potential of modulating endosomal pH.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on endosomal pH and cancer.
- Focus on the role of endosomal Na+/H+ exchangers (NHE6, NHE9).
- Analysis of molecular mechanisms connecting endosomal pH to cancer progression.
Main Results:
- Endosomal pH regulates cancer cell proliferation, migration, stemness, and therapy sensitivity.
- Endosomal NHE isoforms are critical regulators of endosomal pH.
- Dysregulation of endosomal pH is linked to cancer malignancy and patient prognosis.
Conclusions:
- Endosomal pH is a critical determinant of cancer behavior.
- Endosomal NHEs play a significant role in cancer progression.
- Targeting endosomal pH presents a promising avenue for novel cancer therapies.
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