Monocarboxylate transporter 1 is up-regulated in basal-like breast carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) have been considered promising targets for cancer therapy, since they facilitate lactate efflux in glycolytic tumours. However, their role in solid tumours is still poorly understood. Thus, the present work aimed to contribute to understanding the involvement of MCT1 and MCT4 in breast cancer progression as well as MCT regulation by CD147.


RESULTS
The expression of the membrane transporters MCT1 and MCT4 was analysed in a series of breast carcinomas (249 cases) and their clinicopathological significance investigated. Additionally, we analysed the significance of CD147 co-expression, as an important regulator of MCT expression and activity. MCT1 was significantly increased in breast carcinomas when compared with normal breast tissue and, importantly, both MCT1 and CD147 were associated with poor prognostic variables such as basal-like subtype and high grade tumours.


CONCLUSIONS
These results provide evidence for a prognostic value of MCT1 in breast carcinoma and support the exploitation of the complex MCT1/CD147 as a promising target for cancer therapy, especially in basal-like breast carcinoma.
Pinheiro
Céline
C
Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, Braga, Portugal.
Albergaria
André
A
Paredes
Joana
J
Sousa
Bárbara
B
Dufloth
Rozany
R
Vieira
Daniella
D
Schmitt
Fernando
F
Baltazar
Fátima
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D051926:Basigin / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008875:Middle Aged; D027501:Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters / Q000378:metabolism*; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011379:Prognosis; D027981:Symporters / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation; D000099233:Monocarboxylate Transport Protein 1
D051926:Basigin; D027501:Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D027981:Symporters; D000099233:Monocarboxylate Transport Protein 1; C406962:SLC16A4 protein, human