Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 22, 2026

Activating Autophagy by Aerobic Exercise in Mice
08:44

Activating Autophagy by Aerobic Exercise in Mice

Published on: February 3, 2017

12.7K

SLC3A2/CD98hc, autophagy and tumor radioresistance: a link confirmed

David Digomann1, Annett Linge1,2,3,4,5,6, Anna Dubrovska1,2,3,7

  • 1OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf , Dresden , Germany.

Autophagy
|July 6, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Low SLC3A2 expression in head and neck cancers enhances autophagy, increasing tumor radioresistance. Inhibiting autophagy alongside SLC3A2-targeted therapy may improve HNSCC radiosensitization.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • SLC3A2/CD98hc is implicated in amino acid transport, mTOR signaling, and autophagy.
  • SLC3A2 has a known tumorigenic role in various cancers, including head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC).
  • The interplay between SLC3A2, autophagy, and radioresistance in HNSCC was previously unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of SLC3A2 in HNSCC radioresistance.
  • To explore the relationship between SLC3A2 expression, autophagy, and patient prognosis.
  • To evaluate SLC3A2 and autophagy inhibition as a potential radiosensitization strategy for HNSCC.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of SLC3A2 and SLC7A5/LAT1 protein expression in HNSCC patients treated with radiochemotherapy.
  • Assessment of radiosensitivity and autophagy levels in SLC3A2-deficient HNSCC cells.
  • Inhibition of autophagy in SLC3A2 knockout cells using ATG5 knockdown or bafilomycin A1 treatment.

Main Results:

  • Low SLC3A2 and SLC7A5/LAT1 expression correlated with favorable prognosis in locally advanced HNSCC.
  • SLC3A2-deficient HNSCC cells exhibited increased radiosensitivity and heightened autophagy.
  • Autophagy activation serves as a survival mechanism against nutrient stress and radiation damage.
  • Autophagy inhibition (ATG5 knockdown, bafilomycin A1) sensitized SLC3A2-deficient cells to radiation.
  • ATG5 expression levels correlated with overall survival in HNSCC patients.

Conclusions:

  • SLC3A2 deficiency in HNSCC leads to increased autophagy and radiosensitivity.
  • Autophagy acts as a survival mechanism in HNSCC under nutrient stress and radiation.
  • Combined SLC3A2-targeted therapy and autophagy inhibition presents a promising strategy for HNSCC radiosensitization.
Keywords:
ATG5Amino acid transportersCD98hcHNSCCLAT1MTORautophagybiomarkersradiotherapyxCT

More Related Videos

Quantitative Analysis of Autophagy using Advanced 3D Fluorescence Microscopy09:59

Quantitative Analysis of Autophagy using Advanced 3D Fluorescence Microscopy

Published on: May 3, 2013

18.4K
Live Cell Imaging of Early Autophagy Events: Omegasomes and Beyond09:00

Live Cell Imaging of Early Autophagy Events: Omegasomes and Beyond

Published on: July 27, 2013

19.2K

Related Concept Videos

Confirmation Biases01:31

Confirmation Biases

The confirmation bias is the tendency to focus on information that confirms our existing beliefs and ignore information that is inconsistent with our expectations. For example, if you think that your professor is not very nice, you notice all of the instances of rude behavior exhibited by the professor while ignoring the countless pleasant interactions he is involved in on a daily basis. Have you ever fallen prey to the confirmation bias, either as the source or target of such bias?
8.1K
Covalently Linked Protein Regulators02:04

Covalently Linked Protein Regulators

Proteins can undergo many types of post-translational modifications, often in response to changes in their environment. These modifications play an important role in the function and stability of these proteins. Covalently linked molecules include functional groups, such as methyl, acetyl, and phosphate groups, and also small proteins, such as ubiquitin. There are around 200 different types of covalent regulators that have been identified.
These groups modify specific amino acids in a protein....
8.8K
Autophagy01:27

Autophagy

Autophagy is a self-digesting process by which a cell protects itself from threats both within and outside the cell, ranging from abnormal proteins to invading bacteria. In this process, obsolete components of the cell and invading microbes are degraded by hydrolytic enzymes active in an acidic environment of the lysosomal lumen.
An autophagic pathway consists of a series of signaling events activated in response to diverse stress and physiological conditions such as food deprivation,...
5.7K
X-linked Traits01:19

X-linked Traits

In most mammalian species, females have two X sex chromosomes and males have an X and Y. As a result, mutations on the X chromosome in females may be masked by the presence of a normal allele on the second X. In contrast, a mutation on the X chromosome in males more often causes observable biological defects, as there is no normal X to compensate. Trait variations arising from mutations on the X chromosome are called “X-linked”.
58.3K
Enzyme-linked Receptors01:00

Enzyme-linked Receptors

Enzyme-linked receptors are proteins that act as both receptor and enzyme, activating multiple intracellular signals. This is a large group of receptors that include the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) family. Many growth factors and hormones bind to and activate the RTKs.
Neurotrophin (NT) receptors are a family of RTKs, including trkA, trkB, and trkC (tropomyosin-related kinase) receptors. TrkA is specific for nerve growth factor (NGF), neurotrophin-6, and neurotrophin-7. TrkB binds...
86.2K
Sex-linked Disorders01:43

Sex-linked Disorders

Like autosomes, sex chromosomes contain a variety of genes necessary for normal body function. When a mutation in one of these genes results in biological deficits, the disorder is considered sex-linked.
108.5K