These transporters, as well as enzymes such as glutaminase (GLS) and phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH), contribute to the metabolic flexibility and adaptability of cancer cells, allowing them to thrive in nutrient-deficient tumor microenvironments (Sullivan et al., 2019; Vidula et al., 2023). The gene discussed is PHGDH; the disease is neoplasm.