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Comparative Study
. 2012 Jul;18(3):721-8.
doi: 10.1007/s12253-012-9500-5. Epub 2012 Jan 21.

Expression of GLUT1 and GLUT3 glucose transporters in endometrial and breast cancers

Anna Krzeslak  1 , Katarzyna Wojcik-Krowiranda, Ewa Forma, Paweł Jozwiak, Hanna Romanowicz, Andrzej Bienkiewicz, Magdalena Brys
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Expression of GLUT1 and GLUT3 glucose transporters in endometrial and breast cancers

Anna Krzeslak et al. Pathol Oncol Res. 2012 Jul.

Abstract

Cancer cells have accelerated metabolism and high glucose requirements. The up-regulation of specific glucose transporters may represent a key mechanism by which malignant cells may achieve increased glucose uptake to support the high rate of glycolysis. In present study we analyzed the mRNA and protein expression of GLUT1 and GLUT3 glucose transporters by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) and Western blotting technique in 76 cases of endometrial carcinoma and 70 cases of breast carcinoma. SLC2A1 and SLCA2A3 mRNAs expression was found, respectively in 100% and 97.4% samples of endometrial cancers and only in 50% and 40% samples of breast cancers. In endometrial cancers GLUT1 and GLUT3 protein expression was identified in 67.1% and 30.3% of cases. Analogously, in breast cancers in 48.7% and 21% of samples, respectively. The results showed that both endometrial and breast poorly differentiated tumors (grade 2 and 3) had significantly higher GLUT1 and GLUT3 expression than well-differentiated tumors (grade 1). Statistically significant association was found between SLCA2A3 mRNA expression and estrogen and progesterone receptors status in breast cancers. GLUT1 has been reported to be involved in the uptake of glucose by endometrial and breast carcinoma cells earlier and the present study determined that GLUT3 expression is also involved. GLUT1 and GLUT3 seem to be important markers in endometrial and breast tumors differentiation.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
A representative results of GLUT1 a and GLUT3 b protein expression analyses in homogenates of endometrial and breast carcinomas. Lower panels show the results of quantitative densitometric analysis. a and b lane 1- normal endometrium, lane 2—endometrial carcinoma, lane 3—normal breast tissue, lanes 4–6—breast cancer samples classified according the Bloom and Richardson grading system as I, II, III, respectively
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Expression of SLC2A1 and SLCA2A3 mRNA measured by real-time PCR in endometrial cancers via clinicopathological parameters. Bars indicate mean±SEM
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Expression of SLC2A1 and SLCA2A3 mRNA measured by real-time PCR in breast cancers via clinicopathological parameters. Bars indicate mean±SEM
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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