# Glutamine transporters as effective targets in digestive system malignant tumor treatment

## TL;DR

This paper explores how targeting glutamine transporters could improve treatment for digestive system cancers.

## Contribution

It identifies glutamine transporters as potential therapeutic targets for digestive system malignant tumors.

## Key findings

- Tumor cells rely heavily on glutamine transporters for rapid growth.
- Inhibiting these transporters can effectively slow tumor cell proliferation.
- Glutamine transporters are upregulated in digestive system malignant tumors.

## Abstract

Glutamine is one of the most abundant non-essential amino acids in human plasma and plays a crucial role in many biological processes of the human body. Tumor cells take up a large amount of glutamine to meet their rapid proliferation requirements, which is supported by the upregulation of glutamine transporters. Targeted inhibition of glutamine transporters effectively inhibits cell growth and proliferation in tumors. Among all cancers, digestive system malignant tumors (DSMTs) have the highest incidence and mortality rates, and the current therapeutic strategies for DSMTs are mainly surgical resection and chemotherapy. Due to the relatively low survival rate and severe side effects associated with DSMTs treatment, new treatment strategies are urgently required. This article summarizes the glutamine transporters involved in DSMTs and describes their role in DSMTs. Additionally, glutamine transporter-target drugs are discussed, providing theoretical guidance for the further development of drugs DSMTs treatment.