SK1 is a tumor-associated enzyme: high levels of SK1 expression have been shown in various human tumors such as brain, breast, colon, lung, ovary, stomach, uterus, kidney, rectum, and small intestine, where they enhance tumor neovascularization and metastatic potential by promoting motility and invasion of cancer cells (Cuvillier, 2007; Shida et al., 2008; Pyne et al., 2012). Here, SPHK1 is linked to cancer.