Facilitative glucose transporter expression in human cancer tissue

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Biology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Cancer cells exhibit significantly higher glucose utilization than normal tissues.
• Glucose uptake is mediated by facilitative hexose transporters, known as GLUTs (glucose transporters), which are encoded by GLUT genes.
• Different GLUT types possess distinct kinetics, catering to specific cellular demands, though multiple GLUTs can be expressed within a single cell type.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review studies investigating GLUT expression in human cancer tissues.
• To determine the association between GLUT expression and cancer characteristics.
• To evaluate the prognostic significance of GLUT expression in various cancers.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of approximately 30 studies examining GLUT expression in human cancer.
• Measurement of GLUT messenger RNA (mRNA) using reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction or Northern blot analysis.
• Detection of GLUT proteins via antibody-based methods.

Main Results:

• Human tumor tissues frequently display abnormal or elevated expression of GLUTs, with GLUT1 being particularly overexpressed.
• Some tumor cells express specific GLUT mRNA without corresponding protein expression.
• Associations have been reported between GLUT expression and proliferative indices.

Conclusions:

• Overexpression of GLUTs, especially GLUT1, is common in human cancers.
• GLUT expression may serve as a prognostic marker, particularly in lung cancer.
• Discrepancies between GLUT mRNA and protein expression warrant further investigation.