Dysregulated proton and sodium gradients highlight cancer invasion and proliferation

•The hallmarks of cancer all directly linked to proton and sodium imbalances, where reduced extracellular pH and salinity are both the resultant of oncogenic metabolic changes in the tumor microenvironment and are supported by upregulated cellular mechanisms like carbonic anhydrase 9 (CA IX) and sodium proton exchanger (NHE). The dysregulated proton and sodium gradients highlight cancer invasion and proliferation and can be imaged by merging of 23Na and 1H magnetic resonance techniques.