title: Glut-1 glucose transporter expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is associated with tumor aggressiveness.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Glucose transporter (Glut) proteins, which are membrane proteins responsible for the transport of glucose across cellular membranes, have six forms. To further elucidate the role of Glut-1 expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, we examined the expression of Glut-1 protein immunohistochemically.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunohistochemical expression of Glut-1 was examined in surgically resected tissues from 95 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 95 esophageal carcinomas, 91 (95.8%) had some Glut-1 immunostaining in the membranes of the cancer cells. Positive staining (> 30% of cancer cells showing Glut-1 expression) was observed in 49 (51.6%) of the cases. Comparison of Glut-1 expression and clinicopathological characteristics in the 95 patients with esophageal cancer revealed significant associations between Glut-1 expression and tumor status (p < 0.001), lymph node status (p < 0.05), metastatic status (p < 0.01), and pathological stage (p < 0.001). The survival rates of patients with Glut-1-positive tumors were significantly lower than those of patients with Glut-1-negative tumors (log-rank p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, the level of Glut-1 expression may be a useful marker that can provide information on tumor aggressiveness and prognosis in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery I, Gunma University Faculty of Medicine, 3-39-22, Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8511, Japan. hiroyuki@po.wind.ne.jp
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Junko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Takita
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
authors.forename: Masanobu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakajima
authors.forename: Yasuyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fukai
authors.forename: Norihiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Masuda
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fukuchi
authors.forename: Ryokuhei
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Manda
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ojima
authors.forename: Katsuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsukada
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kuwano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D051272:Glucose Transporter Type 1; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009004:Monosaccharide Transport Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D051272:Glucose Transporter Type 1; D009004:Monosaccharide Transport Proteins; C495677:SLC2A1 protein, human