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. 2024 Feb 16;12(5):931-941.
doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v12.i5.931.

Value of glucose transport protein 1 expression in detecting lymph node metastasis in patients with colorectal cancer

Hongsik Kim  1 , Song-Yi Choi  2 , Tae-Young Heo  3 , Kyeong-Rok Kim  3 , Jisun Lee  4 , Min Young Yoo  5 , Taek-Gu Lee  6 , Joung-Ho Han  7
Affiliations

Value of glucose transport protein 1 expression in detecting lymph node metastasis in patients with colorectal cancer

Hongsik Kim et al. World J Clin Cases. .

Abstract

Background: There are limited data on the use of glucose transport protein 1 (GLUT-1) expression as a biomarker for predicting lymph node metastasis in patients with colorectal cancer. GLUT-1 and GLUT-3, hexokinase (HK)-II, and hypoxia-induced factor (HIF)-1 expressions may be useful biomarkers for detecting primary tumors and lymph node metastasis when combined with fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake on positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT).

Aim: To evaluate GLUT-1, GLUT-3, HK-II, and HIF-1 expressions as biomarkers for detecting primary tumors and lymph node metastasis with 18F-FDG-PET/CT.

Methods: This retrospective study included 169 patients with colorectal cancer who underwent colectomy and preoperative 18F-FDG-PET/CT at Chungbuk National University Hospital between January 2009 and May 2012. Two tissue cores from the central and peripheral areas of the tumors were obtained and were examined by a dedicated pathologist, and the expressions of GLUT-1, GLUT-3, HK-II, and HIF-1 were determined using immunohistochemical staining. We analyzed the correlations among their expressions, various clinicopathological factors, and the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of PET/CT.

Results: GLUT-1 was found at the center or periphery of the tumors in 109 (64.5%) of the 169 patients. GLUT-1 positivity was significantly correlated with the SUVmax of the primary tumor and lymph nodes, regardless of the biopsy site (tumor center, P < 0.001 and P = 0.012; tumor periphery, P = 0.030 and P = 0.010, respectively). GLUT-1 positivity and negativity were associated with higher and lower sensitivities of PET/CT, respectively, for the detection of lymph node metastasis, regardless of the biopsy site. GLUT3, HK-II, and HIF-1 expressions were not significantly correlated with the SUVmax of the primary tumor and lymph nodes.

Conclusion: GLUT-1 expression was significantly correlated with the SUVmax of 18F-FDG-PET/CT for primary tumors and lymph nodes. Clinicians should consider GLUT-1 expression in preoperative endoscopic biopsy in interpreting PET/CT findings.

Keywords: 18F-FDG-PET-CT; Biomarker; Colorectal neoplasms; Glucose transporter type 1; Lymph node.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors have no conflict of interest to declare regarding the publication of this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Immunohistochemical staining for glucose transport protein 1 in colorectal cancer. Glucose transport protein 1 expression was demonstrated as cytoplasmic or membranous staining. A-D: The score was assessed according to the intensity [0 = negative (A), 1 = weak (B), 2 = moderate (C), 3 = strong (D); × 100]. A score of 2 or higher was considered as positive.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Immunohistochemical staining for glucose transport protein 3, hexokinase-II, and hypoxia-inducible factor-1 in colorectal cancer. Glucose transport protein 3 (GLUT-3) and hexokinase-II expressions were demonstrated as cytoplasmic or membranous staining. A: GLUT-3 negative; B: GLUT-3 positive; C: Hexokinase-II negative; D: Hexokinase-II positive; E and F: Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) expression was demonstrated as nuclear staining (E: HIF-1 negative, F: HIF-1 positive).
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