SLC31A1 and cancer: On the other hand, excessive copper uptake including through the use of the copper ionophores, such as elesclomol (ES) and alcohol drug disulfiram (DSF), can induce a novel type of apoptosis (known as cuproptosis), in the presence of copper transporter 1 (CTR1),[17] or Zn transporter 1 (ZnT1).[18] Nevertheless, the mechanisms by which copper maintains homeostasis, and its regulation effects cuproplasia and cuproptosis for cancer therapies, remain largely elusive.