Summary The Na+/K+‐translocating adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) transports sodium and potassium across the plasma membrane and represents a potential target in cancer chemotherapy. Na+/K+‐ATPase belongs to the P‐type ATPase family (also known as E1–E2 ATPase), which is involved in transporting certain ions, metals, and lipids across the plasma membrane of mammalian cells. In humans, the Na+/K+‐ATPase is a binary complex of an α‐subunit that has four isoforms (α1–α4) and a β‐subunit that has three isoforms (β1–β3). This review aims to update our knowledge on the role of Na+/K+‐ATPase in cancer development and metastasis, as well as on how Na+/K+‐ATPase inhibitors kill tumour cells. The Na+/K+‐ATPase has been found to be associated with cancer initiation, growth, development, and metastasis. Cardiac glycosides have exhibited anticancer effects in cell‐based and mouse studies via inhibition of the Na+/K+‐ATPase and other mechanisms. Na+/K+‐ATPase inhibitors may kill cancer cells via induction of apoptosis and autophagy, radical oxygen species production, and cell cycle arrest. They also modulate multiple signalling pathways that regulate cancer cell survival and death, which contributes to their antiproliferative activities in cancer cells. The clinical evidence supporting the use of Na+/K+‐ATPase inhibitors as anticancer drugs is weak. Several phase I and phase II clinical trials with digoxin, Anvirzel, and huachansu (an intravenous formulated extract of the venom of the wild toad), either alone or more often in combination with other anticancer agents, have shown acceptable safety profiles but limited efficacy in cancer patients. Well‐designed randomized clinical trials with reasonable sample sizes are certainly warranted to confirm the efficacy and safety of cardiac glycosides for the treatment of cancer.

SUMMARYHuman Aurora kinases, including Aurora kinase A (AURKA), B (AURKB), and C (AURKC), play an essential role in mitotic events such as monitoring of the mitotic checkpoint, creation of bipolar mitotic spindle and alignment of centrosomes on it, also regulating centrosome separation, bioorientation of chromosomes and cytokinesis. AURKA and AURKB are key regulators of mitosis and centrosome via polymerizing microfilaments and controlling chromatid segregation. In particular, AURKA plays critical roles in the regulation of mitotic entry, centrosome function, bipolar spindle assembly, and chromosome segregation. AURKA has been found to be overexpressed in various solid and haematological cancers and has been linked with poor prognosis. Its important role in cancer initiation, growth, and metastasis has brought the focus to search for potent and selective AURKA inhibitors for cancer treatment. MLN8237, also known as alisertib, is one selective AURKA inhibitor that has shown remarkable anticancer effects in preclinical studies. Alisertib exhibits favourable pharmacokinetic properties. Alisertib has generally showed good partial response rates of 4-52% and good safety profiles in Phase I and II trials when it is solely administered as well as combined with cytotoxic chemotherapeutic drugs. Recently, the multicentre, randomized Phase III study of alisertib in patients with relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma has been discontinued due to unsatisfactory efficacy. The low risk of side effects, accessibility, and effectiveness of alisertib makes it a new promising anticancer therapy and further mechanistic and clinical studies are warranted.