Inhibition Studies of the LAT1 Amino Acid Transporter in LAT1 Cancer Drug Development
Faculty Mentor
Rebecca Kocerha
Location
Russell Union Ballroom
Type of Research
On-going
Session Format
Poster Presentation
College
College of Science & Mathematics
Department
Biochemistry, Chemistry, and Physics
Abstract
Cancer cells require a substantial amount of nutrients to sustain their rapid proliferation. This high metabolic demand is supported by an overexpression of transport proteins such as the L-Type Amino Acid Transporter 1, LAT1. LAT1 aids in the cross-membrane transport of large, neutral amino acids that are essential for processes such as protein synthesis and cell growth. Because LAT1 is overexpressed in almost all cancer cell types compared to healthy cells, drugs that utilize LAT1-mediated transport could maximize selectivity to diseased cells and limit nonspecific responses. Previous studies by our research group show that modifying established cytotoxic compounds, such as 1,4-napthoquinone and 9-aminoacridine, into LAT1 drugs allows for selective cytotoxicity towards both prostate and breast cancer cell. JPH203 (Nanvuranlat), a recently developed anti-cancer drug, targets cancer cells by selectively inhibiting LAT1 and preventing the binding of LAT1-recognized amino acid substrates. This study aims to evaluate the effect of LAT1 inhibition with JPH203 on the activity of the LAT1 drugs in cancer cell lines that are represented in the NCI-60 panel of the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
Program Description
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Start Date
4-23-2026 2:00 PM
End Date
4-23-2026 4:00 PM
Recommended Citation
Lott, Harley N., "Inhibition Studies of the LAT1 Amino Acid Transporter in LAT1 Cancer Drug Development" (2026). GS4 Student Scholars Symposium. 167.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/research_symposium/2026/2026/167
Inhibition Studies of the LAT1 Amino Acid Transporter in LAT1 Cancer Drug Development
Russell Union Ballroom
Cancer cells require a substantial amount of nutrients to sustain their rapid proliferation. This high metabolic demand is supported by an overexpression of transport proteins such as the L-Type Amino Acid Transporter 1, LAT1. LAT1 aids in the cross-membrane transport of large, neutral amino acids that are essential for processes such as protein synthesis and cell growth. Because LAT1 is overexpressed in almost all cancer cell types compared to healthy cells, drugs that utilize LAT1-mediated transport could maximize selectivity to diseased cells and limit nonspecific responses. Previous studies by our research group show that modifying established cytotoxic compounds, such as 1,4-napthoquinone and 9-aminoacridine, into LAT1 drugs allows for selective cytotoxicity towards both prostate and breast cancer cell. JPH203 (Nanvuranlat), a recently developed anti-cancer drug, targets cancer cells by selectively inhibiting LAT1 and preventing the binding of LAT1-recognized amino acid substrates. This study aims to evaluate the effect of LAT1 inhibition with JPH203 on the activity of the LAT1 drugs in cancer cell lines that are represented in the NCI-60 panel of the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
