The solute carrier family 11 transporters: a bridge between iron homeostasis and tumor biology.

Summary: Iron is a vital mineral for our bodies, but having too much or too little can lead to cancer. Two special "gates" in our cells, called SLC11A1 and SLC11A2, control how iron moves around. SLC11A1 works in our immune system, while SLC11A2 helps absorb iron from food and controls a type of cell death. When these gates break down, tumors can grow, spread, and resist medical treatments. Scientists are discovering that fixing or blocking these gates with new drugs could be a powerful way to fight cancer.