Expression of glucose transporter GLUT-1 and estrogen receptors ER-α and ER-β in human breast cancer

We attempted to describe a GLUT-1 expression in breast cancer and characterize correlation between GLUT-1 and ERs alpha and beta expression as well as correlate this with clinicopathologic features. Sixty-nine patients were involved in the study. GLUT-1, ER-alpha and ER-beta immunocytochemistry was performed using the streptavidin-biotin method. Thirty-seven (53.6%) out of total 69 were GLUT-1 positive. Of GLUT-1 positive 45.3% were ER-alpha-positive, whereas 81.3% of ER-alpha-negative were GLUT-1 positive. Statistically significant correlation was observed between GLUT-1 and ER-alpha expression status but neither between GLUT-1 and ER-alpha nor with clinicopathologic features. No statistically significant correlation was found between expression level (expressed as immunocytore active score) of GLUT-1, ER-g and ER-beta. Since most of ER-alpha-negative (81.3%) were GLUT-1 positive and significant correlation exists between the two receptors it is reasonable to assume that some functional relation might exists between the expression of two receptors.