Expression of the GLUT1 glucose transporter in gallbladder carcinomas

Background/Aims: It has previously been shown that glucose uptake and use is more prevalent in carcinomas than in normal cells and tissues. We hypothesized that human erythrocyte glucose transporter-1 expression is increased in gallbladder carcinoma and might be correlated with prognostic significance. Methodology: A total of 71 cases of gallbladder carcinomas, 2 cases of gallbladder-dysplasia. and 20 cases of gallbladder adenomas were examined immunohistochemically evaluate the expression of glucose transporter-1 protein in the light of their relationship with various prognostic factors. Results: Glucose transporter-1 was stained in the cell membrane of the cancer cells. Adjacent normal mucosa was negative for glucose transporter-1 staining. Thirty-seven gallbladder carcinomas (52.1%) showed positive staining for glucose transporter-1, however only one of the adenomas (5.0%) and none, of the dysplasias were positive (P<0.05). There wash significant correlation between glucose transporter-1 expression and histologic tumor type, and tumor stage. In the multivariate analysis, tumor stage was' statistically. significant, (P=0.05), but glucose transporter-1 expression was, not significant (P=0.07) The mean survival periods of the glucose transporter-1 positive and negative groups were 24 months and, 58 months-, respectively (P=0.003). Conclusions: Our results suggest that glucose transporter-1 protein expression is strongly associated with neoplastic progression,in gallbladder carcinomas, and that glucose transporter-1 expression identifies with a worse prognosis in the patients with gallbladder carcinomas.