Immunohistochemical expression and prognostic significance of FAS and GLUT1 in bladder carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Fatty Acid Synthase (FAS) and Human Erythrocyte Glucose Transporter 1 (GLUT1) are new markers involved in the biological activities of cancer cells. FAS is a multifunctional enzyme that synthesizes palmitate from acetyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA. GLUT1 is a transmembrane protein normally expressed in perineurium and erythrocytes. FAS and GLUT1 expression have been recently described in many aggressive tumors. We explored the immunohistochemical expression of FAS and GLUT1 in bladder carcinomas to reveal statistical associations with clinico-pathological features and recurrence.


METHODS
Thirty-one node- and distant metastasis-negative transitional cell carcinomas from patients with a five-year follow-up were evaluated for FAS and GLUT1 expression.


RESULTS
Univariate analysis showed that low-grade, pTa stage and FAS-negative expression were associated with indolent tumors. Multivariate analysis showed that FAS expression (p = 0.006) and pT1-2 stage tumors (p = 0.001) were independent predictors of recurrence.


CONCLUSIONS
Endogenous fatty acids are an exploitable storage of energy for aggressive human bladder carcinomas. Glucose uptake is not required by bladder tumors.
Visca
Paolo
P
Departments of Pathology, Surgery and Urology, IFO, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.
Sebastiani
Valeria
V
Pizer
Ellen S
ES
Botti
Claudio
C
De Carli
Piero
P
Filippi
Stefania
S
Monaco
Simona
S
Alo
Piero L
PL
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D015653:Cystectomy; D064429:Fatty Acid Synthases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051272:Glucose Transporter Type 1; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009004:Monosaccharide Transport Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery
D051272:Glucose Transporter Type 1; D009004:Monosaccharide Transport Proteins; C495677:SLC2A1 protein, human; D064429:Fatty Acid Synthases