A Putative Role of Organic Anion Transporting Polypeptides (Oatps) In Cell Survival of Hormone-Dependent Breast and Prostate Cancers

Transporter proteins classified into the solute carrier (SLC) transporter superfamily are essential for import of nutrients for cell survival in organisms. In the last two decades, compelling evidence has accumulated that SLC transporters interact with clinically important anticancer agents and contribute to their pharmacokinetics, particularly the biopharmaceutical processes of absorption, elimination and distribution. Furthermore, many SLC transporters have been shown to be differentially upregulated in cancer cells, and this may represent an adaptive response to altered nutritional requirements. Thus, it is likely to utilize them as carrier for efficient drug delivery as well as pharmacological target to shut off the essential nutrients for cell growth of malignant tumors. This short review will introduce organic anion transporting polypeptides which recognize endo- and exogenous organic anionic compounds and recent findings about their upregulation in cancer cells. Besides, OATP-mediated sulfate conjugates of steroid hormone may contribute to cell survival and adapted growth under hormonedepleted conditions. Better understandings of pathophysiological role of OATPs likely provide key information to overcome hormone-refractory breast and prostate tumors.