title: Expression of GLUT-1 in oral squamous cell carcinoma in tobacco and non-tobacco users.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  GLUTs are a family of proteins that mediate glucose transport through the membrane, expressed in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. GLUT-1 positivity in malignant cells indicates increased proliferative activity, energy requirements, aggressive behaviour and poor radiation response.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To observe the expression of GLUT-1 protein in oral squamous cell carcinoma in tobacco and non-tobacco users and to correlate the expression with histopathological grading and pathological staging.
  
  
  METHODS
  50 cases (25 tobacco and 25 non-tobacco) of oral squamous cell carcinoma, selected during period of August 2014 to July 2015. Histopathological grading, TNM and staging were done. Immunohistochemical staining was performed using standard protocol for paraffin embedded sections. Analysis was performed on SPSS software (Windows version 17.0).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant association of GLUT-1 expression was found with history of tobacco (p < 0.001), Bryne's grade (p < 0.001), tumour size (p = 0.001), nodal metastasis (p = 0.022) and stage (p < 0.001). Higher GLUT-1 expression in stage II, stage III and stage IV was found as compared to stage I. GLUT-1 immunoexpression also shows progressive switch from membranous to cytoplasmic to combined location correlating with histopathologic grade and pTNM stage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GLUT-1 expression correlates significantly with histological grade and pTNM staging of oral squamous cell carcinoma. It also significantly correlates with tobacco addiction. Thus, GLUT-1 expression may serve as a biomarker for patients of oral squamous cell carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, King George Medical University, Lucknow, U.P., India.
authors.forename: Neha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Azad
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, King George Medical University, Lucknow, U.P., India.
authors.forename: Malti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kumari Maurya
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, King George Medical University, Lucknow, U.P., India.
authors.forename: Meenakshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, King George Medical University, Lucknow, U.P., India.
authors.forename: Madhu Mati
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Goel
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, King George Medical University, Lucknow, U.P., India.
authors.forename: Ajay Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, King George Medical University, Lucknow, U.P., India.
authors.forename: Mala
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sagar
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, King George Medical University, Lucknow, U.P., India.
authors.forename: Divya
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mehrotra
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, King George Medical University, Lucknow, U.P., India.
authors.forename: Vijay
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kumar
keywords: GLUT-1; Non-tobacco; Oral squamous cell carcinoma; Tobacco