Glut-1 glucose transporter expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is associated with tumor aggressiveness.
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.
Kato
Hiroyuki
H
Department of Surgery I, Gunma University Faculty of Medicine, 3-39-22, Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8511, Japan. hiroyuki@po.wind.ne.jp
Takita
Junko
J
Miyazaki
Tatsuya
T
Nakajima
Masanobu
M
Fukai
Yasuyuki
Y
Masuda
Norihiro
N
Fukuchi
Minoru
M
Manda
Ryokuhei
R
Ojima
Hitoshi
H
Tsukada
Katsuhiko
K
Kuwano
Hiroyuki
H
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
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D051272:Glucose Transporter Type 1; D009004:Monosaccharide Transport Proteins; C495677:SLC2A1 protein, human