The body homeostasis is maintained mainly by the function of the kidneys, which regulate salt and water balance and excretion of metabolism waste products and xenobiotics. This important renal function is determined by the action of many transport systems, which are specifically expressed in the different parts of the nephron, the functional unit of the kidneys. These transport systems are involved, for example, in the reabsorption of sodium, glucose, and other important solutes and peptides from the primary urine. They are also important in the reabsorption of water and thereby production of a concentrated urine. However, several studies have shown the importance of transport systems for different tumor entities. Transport systems, for example, contributed to the proliferation and migration of cancer cells and thereby on tumor progression. They could also serve as drug transporters that could enable drug resistance by outward transport of, for example, chemotherapeutic agents and other drugs. Although many renal transporters have been characterized in detail with respect to the significance for proper kidney function, their role in renal cancer progression is less known. Here, we describe the types of renal cancer and review the studies that analyzed the role of organic cation transporters of the SLC22-family and of the aquaporin water channel family in kidney tumors.
Keywords: Aquaporin; Organic cation transporter; Renal cancer.
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