Glutamate transporter SLC1A1 is associated with clear cell renal cell carcinoma

This study aimed to comparatively analyze the expression levels of the SLC1A1 gene in renal specimens from tumors and adjacent healthy kidney tissues of patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC).

Nineteen patients diagnosed with ccRCC were included in the study. The expression levels of the SLC1A1 and GAPDH genes were measured in tumor and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue specimens from the adjacent healthy kidney of each subject. Via the GEPIA database, the distribution of SLC1A1 gene expressions in ccRCC and healthy kidney tissues was obtained. The relative expression of SLC1A1 was evaluated for the association with the clinical parameters of the patients.

The expression of the SLC1A1 gene was significantly higher in males than females (P = 0.029). Also, there were statistically significant associations between stages II–IV and Fuhrman grades 2–4 with respect to SLC1A1 gene expression (P < 0.001 for both). Moreover, low levels of red blood cell and hemoglobin counts were significantly associated with the SLC1A1 expression (P < 0.001 and P = 0.005, respectively). The expression of the SLC1A1 gene in tumor tissues increased approximately 3 times compared with normal kidney tissues (P < 0.05). According to the GEPIA database, SLC1A1 gene expression is significantly higher in ccRCC patients than healthy persons (P = 0.01).

The change in the expression of SLC1A1 may be crucial for ccRCC pathophysiology.