LIV-1 (ZIP6) was first described in 1988 as an estrogen regulated gene with later work suggesting a role for this transporter in cancer growth and metastasis.
ZIP6 is associated with breast tumor grade, size, and stage, suggesting that it is a potent driving force toward malignancy; ZIP7 plays an important role in tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells, and ZIP10 is involved in invasion and metastasis of breast cancer cells.
Combining the crucial role that zinc plays in cell growth and the proven role of metalloproteases in metastasis presents an exciting indication of how LIV-1 plays a role in breast cancer progression.
Despite the implication of LIV-1 in cancer growth and metastasis, there has been no study to determine the role of LIV-1 in prostate cancer progression.
ESCC tissues had increased levels of SLC39A6 mRNA compared with non-tumor tissues; the increase correlated with tumor metastasis to lymph node and reduced patient survival time.
Our results indicate a causative role for ZIP6 in cell motility and migration, providing ZIP6 as a new target for prediction of clinical cancer spread and also suggesting a ZIP6-dependent mechanism of tumour metastasis.