While influx transporters are the main means by which cells acquire cystine, cysteine can also be taken up from the extracellular milieu into cells directly by excitatory amino acid transporter 3 (EAAT3) and the alanine-serine cysteine transporters 1 and 2 (ASCT1/2), all of which are known to be overexpressed in different cancer types34 (Table 1). The gene discussed is SLC1A1; the disease is cancer.