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Loss of expression of the oncosuppressor PTEN in thyroid incidentalomas associates with GLUT1 plasmamembrane

F Morani1, L Pagano, F Prodam

  • 1Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Department of Medical Sciences, A. Avogadro University, Novara, Italy.

Panminerva Medica
|April 25, 2012
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Loss of PTEN expression in thyroid cancer correlates with increased GLUT1, making these tumors more likely to be detected as incidentalomas by FDG-PET imaging. This finding aids in understanding incidentaloma detection.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Imaging
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography with computed tomography (FDG-PET) detects incidental thyroid cancers (incidentalomas).
  • Glucose transporter (GLUT) surface expression, influenced by the PI3k/Akt pathway, affects FDG uptake.
  • PTEN, a tumor suppressor, normally inhibits the Akt pathway.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between PTEN expression and GLUT1 surface expression in incidentally detected thyroid cancers.
  • To determine if PTEN status influences the detectability of thyroid cancer via FDG-PET.

Main Methods:

  • Immunofluorescence analysis of biopsy samples from 8 patients with incidentally diagnosed papillary thyroid cancer (PTC).
  • Assessed co-expression of PTEN and GLUT1.

Main Results:

  • PTEN expression was lost in 6 out of 8 investigated cases.
  • PTEN-negative thyroid cancers exhibited intense GLUT1 expression at the cell surface.
  • PTEN-positive cases showed negative GLUT1 expression.

Conclusions:

  • Loss of PTEN expression in thyroid cancer is associated with increased GLUT1 surface expression.
  • PTEN-negative thyroid cancers are more likely to be identified as incidentalomas through FDG-PET scans.

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