# Targeting SLC7A11-induced nutrient dependency in cancer: mechanisms and preclinical translation

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR · 2022 · $417,378

## Abstract

Project Summary
 Specific genetic alterations in cancer cells may reprogram their metabolic networks and render them highly
dependent on particular nutrients for survival. A mechanistic understanding of nutrient dependency in cancer
cells has important implications for cancer treatment because drugs that impair nutrient metabolism may be
effective for killing cancer cells that depend on specific nutrients for survival while sparing normal cells. While
targeting nutrient dependency has been successful in leukemia, to date there has been limited success in
targeting nutrient dependency in solid tumors. Therefore, there is a significant need to understand the
mechanisms of action of anti-neoplastic agents that target nutrient dependency in cancer cells. SLC7A11 is an
amino acid transporter that enables cystine uptake and its subsequent conversion to cysteine, which is critical
for maintaining redox balance and cell survival. SLC7A11 is frequently overexpressed in human cancers,
including KEAP1-mutant lung cancers. This application aims to determine the roles and mechanisms of
SLC7A11 in regulating nutrient dependency and to therapeutically target nutrient dependency in cancers with
aberrant expression of SLC7A11. Our specific aims are: Specific Aim 1: To determine the metabolic mechanisms
underlying SLC7A11-induced glucose dependency in cancer cells. Specific Aim 2: To determine the therapeutic
potential of inhibiting GLUTs or the PPP in treating tumors with aberrant SLC7A11 expression. The rationale for
the proposed research is that studying the roles of SLC7A11 in regulating glucose dependency will not only
advance our mechanistic understanding of nutrient dependency in cancer cells but also provide important
insights into the development of novel therapeutic strategies to target metabolic vulnerabilities in SLC7A11-
overexpressing tumors. Our proposed studies will have significant impact on both our understanding of the
fundamental mechanisms of nutrient dependency and our ability to therapeutically target nutrient dependency in
cancer treatment.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10459383
- **Project number:** 5R01CA244144-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Boyi Gan
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $417,378
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-07-01 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10459383

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10459383, Targeting SLC7A11-induced nutrient dependency in cancer: mechanisms and preclinical translation (5R01CA244144-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10459383. Licensed CC0.

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