Cystine transporter SLC7A11/xCT in cancer: ferroptosis, nutrient dependency, and cancer therapy

Abstract The cystine/glutamate antiporter SLC7A11 (also commonly known as xCT) functions to import cystine for glutathione biosynthesis and antioxidant defense and is overexpressed in multiple human cancers. Recent studies revealed that SLC7A11 overexpression promotes tumor growth partly through suppressing ferroptosis, a form of regulated cell death induced by excessive lipid peroxidation. However, cancer cells with high expression of SLC7A11 (SLC7A11 high ) also have to endure the significant cost associated with SLC7A11-mediated metabolic reprogramming, leading to glucose- and glutamine-dependency in SLC7A11 high cancer cells, which presents potential metabolic vulnerabilities for therapeutic targeting in…

• UD
  U.S. Department of Defense

  Award: KC180131
• CP
  Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas

  Award: RP170067
• UO
  University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: R01CA181196, R01CA244144
• UO
  University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

  Award: RP170067