The role of MCT1 in tumor progression and targeted therapy: a comprehensive review

Overexpression of monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1) in tumor cells is often associated with poor prognosis. The established mechanisms through which MCT1 and its mediated lactate transport drive tumor progression are manifold. The classical mechanisms include fostering metabolic symbiosis among t...

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Main Authors: Zheng Xu, Xuemei Wang, Hongjing Cheng, Jiuling Li, Xin Zhang, Xueju Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Immunology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1610466/full
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author Zheng Xu
Xuemei Wang
Hongjing Cheng
Jiuling Li
Xin Zhang
Xueju Wang
author_facet Zheng Xu
Xuemei Wang
Hongjing Cheng
Jiuling Li
Xin Zhang
Xueju Wang
author_sort Zheng Xu
collection DOAJ
description Overexpression of monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1) in tumor cells is often associated with poor prognosis. The established mechanisms through which MCT1 and its mediated lactate transport drive tumor progression are manifold. The classical mechanisms include fostering metabolic symbiosis among tumor cells, dampening the immune function of immune cells, and spurring tumor angiogenesis. Beyond these, new findings of MCT1’s role in tumor progression have emerged. These new findings highlight MCT1’s involvement in mediating the reverse Warburg effect, inhibiting ferroptosis, promoting protective autophagy, and augmenting tumor glycolysis. When acetate serves as a transport substrate for MCT1, additional mechanisms come into play. These encompass MCT1’s participation in the acetylation of histone H3K27 and its role in upregulating c-Myc levels. Several studies have demonstrated that while selective MCT1 inhibitors can effectively impede tumor progression, they also face notable challenges. To address these, combining MCT1 inhibitors with other drugs appears to hold more promise.
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spelling doaj-art-1151377e75a54f7b803c4e27509d8b822025-08-20T02:36:02ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-06-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.16104661610466The role of MCT1 in tumor progression and targeted therapy: a comprehensive reviewZheng XuXuemei WangHongjing ChengJiuling LiXin ZhangXueju WangOverexpression of monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1) in tumor cells is often associated with poor prognosis. The established mechanisms through which MCT1 and its mediated lactate transport drive tumor progression are manifold. The classical mechanisms include fostering metabolic symbiosis among tumor cells, dampening the immune function of immune cells, and spurring tumor angiogenesis. Beyond these, new findings of MCT1’s role in tumor progression have emerged. These new findings highlight MCT1’s involvement in mediating the reverse Warburg effect, inhibiting ferroptosis, promoting protective autophagy, and augmenting tumor glycolysis. When acetate serves as a transport substrate for MCT1, additional mechanisms come into play. These encompass MCT1’s participation in the acetylation of histone H3K27 and its role in upregulating c-Myc levels. Several studies have demonstrated that while selective MCT1 inhibitors can effectively impede tumor progression, they also face notable challenges. To address these, combining MCT1 inhibitors with other drugs appears to hold more promise.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1610466/fullMCT1oncogenic mechanismtumor progressionMCT1 inhibitortargeted therapy
spellingShingle Zheng Xu
Xuemei Wang
Hongjing Cheng
Jiuling Li
Xin Zhang
Xueju Wang
The role of MCT1 in tumor progression and targeted therapy: a comprehensive review
Frontiers in Immunology
MCT1
oncogenic mechanism
tumor progression
MCT1 inhibitor
targeted therapy
title The role of MCT1 in tumor progression and targeted therapy: a comprehensive review
title_full The role of MCT1 in tumor progression and targeted therapy: a comprehensive review
title_fullStr The role of MCT1 in tumor progression and targeted therapy: a comprehensive review
title_full_unstemmed The role of MCT1 in tumor progression and targeted therapy: a comprehensive review
title_short The role of MCT1 in tumor progression and targeted therapy: a comprehensive review
title_sort role of mct1 in tumor progression and targeted therapy a comprehensive review
topic MCT1
oncogenic mechanism
tumor progression
MCT1 inhibitor
targeted therapy
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1610466/full
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