WNK1 kinase signaling in metastasis and angiogenesis

[[abstract]]With-no-lysine kinases (WNKs) are a novel family of serine/threonine protein kinases participating in ion homeostasis via the WNK-OSR1/SPAK-NKCC cascade. Recent studies of WNK1 have revealed that its related signaling pathways mediated tumor-induced angiogenesis and carcinogenesis and uncovered novel roles of WNK1 in endothelial cell migration and proliferation, tumor cell proliferation, and metastasis. Herein, we review the functions of WNK1 in cancer metastasis and angiogenesis and propose WNK1 targeting as an anti-cancer strategy