Therapeutic potential of solute carrier transporters in cervical squamous cell carcinomaIn : silico analysis of omics datasets

Abstract

Purpose

Cervical squamous cell carcinoma and endocervical adenocarcinoma (CESC) are major gynecological malignancies. Precision oncology seeks to tailor treatments by targeting tumor-specific molecular profiles. Solute carriers (SLCs), a superfamily of over 400 transport proteins in 65 families, regulate molecular transport and represent potential therapeutic targets.

Methods

Transcriptomic and proteomic datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Human Protein Atlas were analyzed to evaluate the role of SLC transporters in CESC.

Results

Comparative profiling revealed significant upregulation of SLC64A1, SLC7A1, SLC25A24, and SLC11A2 in tumor tissues versus normal controls. Elevated expression of these SLC genes correlated with reduced overall and disease-specific survival. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis showed enrichment of oncogenic pathways associated with SLC overexpression, including epithelial-mesenchymal transition, hypoxia, angiogenesis, ATP-binding cassette transporter activity, and transforming growth factor-beta, Notch, and Hedgehog signaling. These findings suggest that SLC transporters facilitate tumor progression and metastasis.

Conclusion

SLC transporters may serve as predictive biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Their inhibition could disrupt metabolic and nutrient pathways essential for CESC progression, offering novel opportunities to improve outcomes.

Keywords: Carcinoma, squamous cell; Gene expression profiling; Solute carrier proteins; Uterine cervical neoplasms