[Expression of glucose transporter-1 and its correlation with basic fibroblast growth factor and proliferating cell...

To study the expression of glucose transporter-1 (GLUT1) and its correlation with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in epithelial ovarian neoplasm.

Streptavidin-peroxidase complex technique was used to examine the expression of GLUT1, bFGF and PCNA protein in six cases of normal ovarian tissue, 20 cases of benign epithelial tumors, seven cases of borderline tumor and 44 cases of epithelial ovarian carcinoma.

In normal ovary and benign ovarian tumor, GLUT1 was not detected, but in borderline ovarian tumor and cancer, the positive expression ratio of GLUT1 was 6/7 and 91% (40/44), respectively. The intensity of GLUT1 in ovarian epithelial neoplasm was significantly higher than in borderline tumors. The staining intensity of GLUT1 was significantly correlated with the histological grade of the tumor (r(S) = 0.499, P = 0.001), and was positively correlated with the clinical stage, cancer invasion and lymph node metastasis. GLUT1 staining was intense in cytoplasmic membrane, and was stronger in areas far away from blood vessels and near the necrotic center. GLUT(1) expression level did not show any association with histology type (P = 0.513). bFGF positive rate in tumor was 57% (25/44). The staining intensity of GLUT1 was significantly higher in bFGF positive group than in bFGF negative group (P < 0.01). The mean score of PCNA was significantly higher in cancer tissues with strong GLUT1 staining(+++) than that with moderate(++) and low(+) GLUT1 staining (P < 0.05). And the score of PCNA was also significantly higher in bFGF positive group than in bFGF negative group (P < 0.01).

(1) The expression of GLUT1 may be closely related to malignant transformation of ovarian epithelial tumors. It is also correlated with clinical stage, cancer invasion and lymph node metastasis, and may be a useful predictor of poor prognosis. (2) bFGF could enhance the expression of GLUT1. Both of them play important roles in the carcinogenesis and progression of ovarian epithelial carcinoma.