SLC39 and SLC30 zinc transporters: functions and potential mechanisms in cancer

Solute carrier (SLC) transporters are membrane proteins that facilitate the movement of various substrates, such as nutrients and organic or inorganic ions, across cellular membranes.Recent studies underscore the critical roles of SLC transporters in regulating cancer metabolism, immune evasion, and the tumor microenvironment.Increasing evidence suggests that the SLC39 and SLC30 families of zinc transporters, responsible for importing and exporting zinc into and out of the cytoplasm, respectively, modulate intracellular zinc distribution and signaling and may play a role in cancer initiation or progression.In this review, we discuss the functional roles of these zinc transporters in different cancer types and examine potential mechanisms linking zinc metabolism with oncogenic pathways that contribute to malignancy.