An essential role for GLUT5-mediated fructose utilization in exacerbating the malignancy of clear cell renal cell carcinoma

Fructose is an important alternative carbon source for several tumors, and GLUT5 is the major fructose transporter which mediates most of fructose uptake in cells. So far, it is unclear whether GLUT5-mediated fructose utilization is important for clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Here, we demonstrated that GLUT5 was highly expressed in a panel of ccRCC cell lines. High GLUT5 expression exacerbated the neoplastic phenotypes of ccRCC cells, including cell proliferation and colony formation. On the other hand, deletion of the GLUT5-encoding gene SLC2A5 dramatically attenuated cellular malignancy via activating the apoptotic pathway. Moreover, administration of 2,5-anhydro-D-mannitol (2,5-AM), a competitive inhibitor of fructose uptake, could markedly suppress ccRCC cell growth. Together, we provide a new mechanistic insight for GLUT5-mediated fructose utilization in ccRCC cells and highlight the therapeutic potential for targeting this metabolic pathway against ccRCC.