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The Role of Transporters in Future Chemotherapy

Johanna Huttunen1, Kristiina M Huttunen2

  • 1School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland. johanna.huttunen@uef.fi.

Chimia
|December 9, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Altered membrane transporters in cancer cells, like solute carriers (SLCs) and ATP-binding cassettes (ABCs), offer new chemotherapy strategies. Targeting these transporters enables selective drug delivery and nutrient restriction for cancer treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Membrane transporter expression, including solute carriers (SLCs) and ATP-binding cassettes (ABCs), is frequently altered in cancer cells.
  • These transporters play a critical role in cellular uptake and efflux of endogenous compounds, nutrients, and chemotherapeutic drugs, influencing treatment outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the potential of targeting membrane transporters for novel cancer therapies.
  • To investigate the dual role of transporters in facilitating drug delivery and limiting cancer cell proliferation.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature on membrane transporter expression and function in cancer.
  • Analysis of strategies for exploiting transporter up-regulation (e.g., LAT1) for targeted drug delivery.
  • Evaluation of transporter inhibition for restricting cancer cell nutrient uptake and overcoming multidrug resistance.

Main Results:

  • Up-regulation of specific transporters, such as L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1), can be leveraged for selective delivery of chemotherapeutics, prodrugs, and diagnostic agents.
  • Inhibition of SLCs can limit nutrient supply to cancer cells, hindering their growth and proliferation.
  • LAT1 can be used to deliver ATP-binding cassette (ABC) inhibitors, overcoming multidrug resistance by blocking drug efflux.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting membrane transporters offers a promising approach for developing selective cancer therapies.
  • Modulating transporter expression or activity presents a potential strategy for future chemotherapy and overcoming drug resistance.
Keywords:
ATP-binding cassette (ABC)L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1)multidrug resistance (MDR)prodrugsolute carrier (SLC)

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