Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40869403›Full record

ReviewInternational journal of molecular sciences2025

Zinc Transporters of the LIV-1 Subfamily in Various Cancers: Molecular Insights and Research Priorities for Saudi Arabia.

Ahmed M Alzahrani, Kathryn M Taylor

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in International journal of molecular sciences, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Current oncology (Toronto, Ont.) · 2026
    Article
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Ahmed M AlzahraniDepartment of Biochemistry, Al-Qunfudah Medical College, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 24382, Saudi Arabia.ORCID 0009-0009-8951-4633
Kathryn M TaylorSchool of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3NB, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-9576-9490

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Zinc is an essential trace element involved in critical physiological functions such as gene expression, immune regulation, and cellular proliferation. This review explores the link between zinc homeostasis and cancer, with a specific focus on LIV-1 zinc transporters and their potential relevance to cancer research and treatment priorities in Saudi Arabia, as informed by global data. Zinc homeostasis is maintained by two major transporter families: ZIP (SLC39A) and ZnT (SLC30A). The dysregulation of specific ZIP transporters, particularly ZIP4, ZIP7, ZIP6, and ZIP10, has been implicated in cancer progression. Bioinformatic analyses revealed the significant overexpression of ZIP4, ZIP7, and ZIP6 in breast cancer and ZIP4 in colorectal cancer, which are the most common cancers among Saudi women and men, respectively. Notably, ZIP4 and ZIP7 upregulation correlated with poorer clinical outcomes, whereas ZIP6 was positively associated with survival in breast cancer. These findings underscore the potential of zinc transporters as prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Despite the substantial global evidence, research on zinc transporters in the Saudi population remains limited. Considering the Kingdom's rising cancer burden and unique genetic, environmental, and dietary factors, understanding zinc metabolism in this context is important. Targeted research may support precision medicine strategies and improve outcomes in line with Saudi Arabia's healthcare transformation goals.

Indexed as

Cation Transport ProteinsNeoplasm ProteinsNeoplasmsZincBreast NeoplasmsFemaleHomeostasisHumansSaudi ArabiaCation Transport ProteinsNeoplasm ProteinsZincbreast cancercancer therapycolorectal cancerprognostic biomarkersSaudi Arabiazinczinc transportersZIP4ZIP6ZIP7

Identifiers

PMID40869403
PMCPMC12387058

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.