What is the role of amino acid transporters in cancer?
Cancer cells often upregulate specific amino acid transporters to meet their increased metabolic demands. For instance, the transporter SLC1A5 (also known as ASCT2) is frequently overexpressed in various cancers and is responsible for the uptake of glutamine. Targeting these transporters can disrupt amino acid homeostasis in cancer cells, thereby inhibiting their growth and survival. Some transporters are also involved in signaling pathways that promote cancer cell proliferation and metastasis.
