How Do Cancer Cells Upregulate Glucose Transporters?
The upregulation of GLUTs in cancer cells is mediated by several mechanisms. Key among them is the activation of oncogenes and the inactivation of tumor suppressor genes. The PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and HIF-1α (hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha) are critical in this regulatory network. HIF-1α, in particular, is stabilized under hypoxic conditions commonly found in tumors, leading to the transcriptional activation of GLUT1 and other genes involved in glycolysis.
