SLC3A2 - A Potential Gastric Cancer Biomarker

Gastric Cancer

About 800,000 people are killed by gastric cancer every year, making it the second most common cancer-related cause of death overall and the fourth most prevalent malignancy. The disease in question is malignant and extremely aggressive, with a median survival rate of fewer than ten months. The best chance of recovery for stomach cancer is early identification. Sadly, tumor biomarkers that are currently used in clinical practice to identify stomach cancer do not have the sensitivity and specificity necessary to identify lesions that may be treated, making them unsuitable for population screening. Therefore, finding the biomarkers for stomach cancer continues to be a worthwhile endeavor. Research found that the plasma membrane protein SLC3A2 may be a useful diagnostic for the early identification of stomach cancer.

SLC3A2 in Gastric Cancer

SLC3A2 is a newly identified protein linked to gastric cancer that is more selectively expressed in the plasma membrane, making it a more promising biomarker for molecular imaging. SLC3A2 is overexpressed in human melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx, lung adenocarcinoma, and renal cell cancer. It is abundantly expressed on proliferating lymphocytes and other fast developing cells. In NIH 3T3 fibroblast cells, overexpression of SLC3A2, which interacts with the integrin β1A subunit, resulted in anchorage-independent CHO cell proliferation and cancer. SLC3A2 also aids in cell motility, integrin-dependent cell spreading, and apoptosis prevention. Although it is yet unknown, it is possible that SLC3A2 glycosylation is necessary for the interaction of SLC3A2 with integrin, which may then affect cellular transformation. Moreover, SLC3A2 null embryonic stem cells lost their ability to proliferate tumors in living things. All of the data point to SLC3A2 being an oncogene for different kinds of cancer.

Fig.1. CD98 composed of SLC7A5 (light chain) and SLC3A2 (heavy chain).¹

It is known that SLC3A2 and stomach cancer are related. Research findings indicate that SLC3A2 expression levels were higher in over 50% of gastric cancer cell lines and clinical gastric cancer samples. These findings imply that SLC3A2 may be a viable option for future gastric cancer biomarker development. Due to its localization to the plasma membrane, SLC3A2 is a desirable target for imaging and treatment of gastric cancer. These research suggested that SLC3A2 might play a part in the development of gastric cancer and/or the upkeep of the tumor phenotype.

Drugs for SLC3A2

SLC proteins have been linked to cancer cell tumorigenesis and treatment resistance, and SLC3A2 is distinguished by its dual role in promoting the development and survival of cancer cells. In addition to controlling the activity of amino-acid transporter systems, it also affects the behavior of malignant tumor cells, such as their migration and spreading, through integrin-induced signal transduction. Nevertheless, no medication specifically targets SLC3A2 to treat cancer.

Products Research and Development at Creative Biolabs

SLC transporters are a family of more than 300 membrane proteins. Several marketed medication classes specifically target known SLC transporters. SLC transporters may point to a plethora of novel treatment options for illnesses that are common as well as uncommon. Creative Biolabs has developed a variety of SLC Transporter Assays and Transporter Cell Lines to support the research of SLC transporters. These products and services can accelerate the development of your SLC transporter drugs.

Reference

1. Xia, Pu, and Anna Dubrovska. "CD98 heavy chain as a prognostic biomarker and target for cancer treatment." Frontiers in Oncology 13 (2023): 1251100.