Monocarboxylate transporters: new molecular targets for colorectal carcinoma

Abstract

[Excerpt] Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in industrialized countries1. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is one of the most efficient chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of CRC although resistance to 5-FU treatment has been reported2. CRC relies mostly on glycolysis to meet their energetic demands and, as a consequence, CRC cells produce large amounts of lactate that must be extruded to the tumour microenvironment by lactate transporters, namely monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs). (...)