Metabolic rewiring is a key feature of cancer cells to support the demands of growth and proliferation. The metabolism of amino acids is altered in many cancers, including pancreatic cancer. The cellular uptake of amino acids is regulated by amino acid transporters, such as L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1). Accumulating evidence suggests that LAT1 is overexpressed in pancreatic cancer and confers a poor prognosis. Here we discuss the prospects of utilizing LAT1 as a novel target for pancreatic cancer therapy.
Keywords: LAT1; pancreatic cancer; prognosis; therapy.