Roles of ABCA1 in cancer (Review)

Abstract

Studies have indicated that anticancer drugs targeting cholesterol metabolism have clinical significance. From the perspective of the mechanism of cholesterol excretion from cells, ATP-binding cassette (ABC)A1 has an essential role that cannot be ignored. ABCA1 is located on the cell membrane and able to mediate the efflux of lipids, such as intracellular cholesterol, thereby initiating reverse cholesterol transport to reduce the intracellular cholesterol level. Therefore, inducing the expression of ABCA1 may become a new breakthrough point in cancer therapy.