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Updated: Aug 21, 2026

Quantitative Measurement of GLUT4 Translocation to the Plasma Membrane by Flow Cytometry
Published on: November 7, 2010
Expression of glucose transporter 1 (Glut-1) in cell lines and clinical specimens from human prostate adenocarcinoma
P Effert1, A J Beniers, Y Tamimi
1Department of Urology/Urological Research Laboratory, RWTH University of Aachen, Germany. peter.effert@onlinehome.de
Background:
Increased uptake and metabolism of glucose is a characteristic of malignant transformation. Overexpression of glucose transporters, especially Glut-1, is a common event in human malignancies. To date, little is known about the role of Glut-1 in human prostate cancer (PC). The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of Glut-1 both in PC cell lines and clinical specimens of primary PC.
Materials And Methods:
The PC cell lines DU145, PC3 and LNCaP were assessed for Glut-1 mRNA expression by Northern blot analysis. In a total of 45 primary PC specimens, radioactive (35S) in situ hybridizations (RISH) for Glut-1 mRNA expression were performed on frozen sections. Quantification of Glut-1 expression was obtained by use of an image analysis system.
Results:
Glut-1 expression was detected in all 3 cell lines. Expression in the more poorly-differentiated cell lines DU145 and PC3 was even higher than in the hormone-responsive LNCaP cell line. In situ hybridizations in primary PC revealed Glut-1 expression just above the detection limit in well-differentiated tumors. Significantly increased Glut-1 expression was detected in moderately- to poorly-differentiated PC.
Conclusion:
Glut-1 is expressed in PC cell lines and primary PC. The level of expression increases with advancing grade of malignancy. These findings support a role for Glut-1 in PC proliferation.
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Glucose Transporters
Facilitated diffusion-glucose transporters (GLUTs) are encoded by the solute-linked carrier (SLC) family 2, subfamily A gene family, or SLC2A. The 14 GLUT protein members are distributed into three classes:
Glucose Absorption Into the Small Intestine
Transcellular Transport of Solutes
