Heme-glycolysis interplay in oral squamous cell carcinoma: insights into SLC48A1 and GLUT1 expression across...

This study investigates the immunohistochemical expression of SLC48A1 and GLUT-1 in different grades of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and explores their potential association with the development of tumor. OSCC is a heterogeneous malignancy characterized by increased glycolysis and glucose oxidation. Heme plays a crucial role in oxidative metabolism and ATP production via mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. SLC48A1 (solute carrier family 48 member 1) facilitates GLUT-1 trafficking, enhancing glucose uptake and lactate production, thereby promoting cancer cell migration and invasion. However, the relationship between SLC48A1, GLUT-1, and OSCC remains poorly understood.

Seventy-two formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded OSCC tissue samples and ten normal oral mucosa (NOM) were analyzed using immunohistochemistry to assess SLC48A1 and GLUT-1 expression. Staining intensity and distribution were correlated with histopathological grades. Statistical analysis was conducted to evaluate their association with tumor behavior.

GLUT-1 expression showed strong expression in cases of well-differentiated OSCC, supporting its association with tumor. SLC48A1 expression was also seen to be markedly elevated in few cases of poorly differentiated OSCC.

While GLUT-1 expression correlates directly with OSCC, SLC48A1 expression was not seen to be uniformly distributed across the different histological grades. Through this study, it has been proven that both markers hold diagnostic significance and the results of the present study may serve as a future milestone for exploring these markers as potential therapeutic target for disrupting cancer metabolism as well as to correlate with the progression in different grades of OSCC.