Expressions of miR-23a and glucose transporter 1 in primary hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and their clinical significance

Objective: To investigate the expressions of miR-23a and glucose transporter 1 (Glut-1) in primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues and the clinical significance. Methods: A prospective study was conducted in HCC tissues and para-carcinoma tissues from 278 patients. The relative expressions of miR-23a and Glut-1 mRNA, and the ratio of Glut-1 positive cells in HCC tissues were measured. After inhibition of miR-23a in HCC cells, cell migration and Glut-1 expression were observed. The HCC cells were divided into 3 groups according to transfection or inhibition conditions in the cells: negative control group (blank group), transfection control group (NC group), and miR-23a inhibition group (Hep3B miR-23a inhibiting group). Results: We show that larger tumor size, higher alpha fetoprotein (AFP), higher T, N, and M stages, distant metastasis or lymphatic metastasis and lower degree of differentiation were followed by higher relative expression of Glut-1 mRNA and ratio of Glut-1 positive cells, and higher relative expression of miR-23a (all P<0.05). The median survival of Glut-1 negative patients (29 months, 95% CI=27.659-30.341) was significantly higher than that of Glut-1 positive patients (25 months, 95% CI=24.133-25.867; X2=35.298, P<0.001). The relative expression of miR-23a in the Glut-1 positive group was higher than that in the Glut-1 negative group (P<0.05). There was no difference in the number of invasive cells between the blank and NC groups (P>0.05), while after the inhibition of miR-23a, the number of invasive cells and the expression of Glut-1 protein were decreased significantly (both P<0.001). Conclusion: miR-23a and Glut-1 play an important role in the development of liver cancer. High expression of miR-23a and high expression of Glut-1 suggests poor prognosis. Inhibition of miR-23a expression can inhibit the migration of HCC cells and decrease Glut-1 expression, indicating that miR-23a may be a potential biomarker for the assessment of malignancy and prognosis of liver cancer.