Urea Transporters in Cancer: Emerging Roles and Their Clinical Implications

Background/Objective: The SLC14A gene family in mammals encodes the urea transporters UT-A and UT-B (UTs), whose primary function is urea transport. In recent years, increasing research has shown that UTs are involved in tumor formation and progression. The purpose of this article is to review the current knowledge in the potential of urea transporters as tumor biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Methods: An extensive review of the literature was performed utilizing both PubMed and Web of Science databases focusing on articles published within the last ten years. Results: UTs are significantly downregulated in various tumor tissues. They are associated with the staging and prognosis of cancers such as bladder cancer (BC). They participate in the metabolic reprogramming of tumor cells via glycosylation, enhancing the energy supply and material synthesis of tumor cells. They participate in remodeling the tumor microenvironment, influencing the interactions between fibroblasts and tumor cells. Additionally, they interact with other signaling pathways to participate in tumorigenesis and development. Conclusions: The mechanisms by which UTs function in tumorigenesis and progression remain to be fully elucidated, but their potential as tumor biomarkers and therapeutic targets has gradually attracted attention.