Teresa Bhatt

Teresa Bhatt studies the system xCT (SLC7A11) cystine/glutamate antiporter as a cancer drug target and the mechanism of erastin-induced ferroptosis through xCT inhibition. Her research characterized how SLC7A11 is overexpressed in multiple cancer types to supply cystine for glutathione synthesis, providing a survival advantage under oxidative stress. She demonstrated that erastin-mediated xCT inhibition depletes intracellular cysteine and glutathione, creating GPX4 substrate deficiency and triggering lipid peroxide accumulation and ferroptosis. Her pharmacological work is advancing next-generation xCT inhibitors with improved potency and selectivity over erastin.