Prognostic value of GLUT-1 expression in ovarian surface epithelial tumors: a morphometric study.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the reported increase in the expression of the glucose transporter GLUT-1 in borderline and malignant ovarian epithelial tumors and its relationship to prognosis.


METHODS
In this study, areas in which immunohistochemical membranous staining with GLUT-1 were most evident were selected, and the proportions of GLUT-1 expression in 46 benign, 11 borderline and 42 malignant cases of ovarian epithelial tumors were determined quantitatively with a computer and Zeiss Vision KS 400 3.0 (Göttingen, Germany) for Windows (Microsoft, Redmond, Washington, U.S.A.) image analysis.


RESULTS
GLUT-1 expression was determined in all borderline tumors (11 of 11) and in 97.6% of malignant tumors (41 of 42). No GLUT-1 expression was observed in benign tumors. The intensity of GLUT-1 staining was lower in borderline tumors than in malignant cases. This was statistically significant (p = 0.005). As differentiation in malignant tumors increased, proportions of GLUT-1 expression showed a relative increase, but this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.68).


CONCLUSIONS
When GLUT-1 expression in borderline and malignant ovarian epithelial tumors was analyzed against prognosis, no statistically significant difference was identified. Assessment of GLUT-1 expression using the image analysis program was more reliable, with higher reproducibility than in previous studies.
Ozcan
Ayhan
A
Department of Pathology, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey. aozcan06018@yahoo.com
Deveci
Mehmet Salih
MS
Oztas
Emin
E
Dede
Murat
M
Yenen
Mufit Cemal
MC
Korgun
Emin Turkay
ET
Gunhan
Omer
O
D005260:Female; D051272:Glucose Transporter Type 1; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D009004:Monosaccharide Transport Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis
D051272:Glucose Transporter Type 1; D009004:Monosaccharide Transport Proteins; C495677:SLC2A1 protein, human