SLC7A11 expression level dictates differential responses to oxidative stress in cancer cells

Abstract

The cystine transporter solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11; also called xCT) protects cancer cells from oxidative stress and is overexpressed in many cancers. Here we report a surprising finding that, whereas moderate overexpression of SLC7A11 is beneficial for cancer cells treated with H₂O₂, a common oxidative stress inducer, its high overexpression dramatically increases H₂O₂-induced cell death. Mechanistically, high cystine uptake in cancer cells with high overexpression of SLC7A11 in combination with H₂O₂ treatment results in toxic buildup of intracellular cystine and other disulfide molecules, NADPH depletion, redox system collapse, and rapid cell death (likely disulfidptosis). We further show that high overexpression of SLC7A11 promotes tumor growth but suppresses tumor metastasis, likely because metastasizing cancer cells with high expression of SLC7A11 are particularly susceptible to oxidative stress. Our findings reveal that SLC7A11 expression level dictates cancer cells’ sensitivity to oxidative stress and suggests a context-dependent role for SLC7A11 in tumor biology.

The cystine transporter SLC7A11 protects cancer cells from oxidative stress by supporting glutathione synthesis. Here, the authors show that the expression level of SLC7A11 leads to different outcomes depending on context, so high expression promotes primary tumour growth but promotes disulfide stress under oxidative stress conditions and impairs metastasis.