Monocarboxylate transporter MCT1 promotes tumor metastasis independently of its activity as a lactate transporter

Extracellular acidosis resulting from intense metabolic activities in tumors promotes cancer cell migration, invasion and metastasis. While host cells die at low extracellular pH, cancer cells resist, as they are well equipped with transporters and enzymes to regulate intracellular pH homeostasis. A low extracellular pH further activates proteolytic enzymes that remodel the extracellular matrix to facilitate cell migration and invasion. Monocarboxylate transporter MCT1 is a passive transporter of lactic acid that has attracted interest as a target for small molecule drugs to prevent metastasis. In this study, we present evidence of a function for MCT1 in metastasis beyond its role as a transporter of lactic acid. MCT1 activated transcription factor NF-κB to promote cancer cell migration independently of MCT1 transporter activity. While pharmacological MCT1 inhibition did not modulate MCT1-dependent cancer cell migration, silencing or genetic deletion of MCT1 in vivo inhibited migration, invasion and spontaneous metastasis. Our findings raise the possibility that pharmacological inhibitors of MCT1-mediated lactic acid transport may not effectively prevent metastatic dissemination of cancer cells.

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