Glucose transporter GLUT1 expression and clinical outcome in solid tumors: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), the uniporter protein encoded by the SLC2A1 gene, is a key rate-limiting factor in the transport of glucose in cancer cells, and frequently expressed in a significant proportion of human cancers. Numerous studies have reported paradoxical evidence of the relationship between GLUT1 expression and prognosis in solid human tumors. To address this discrepancy, we conducted a thorough search of Pubmed and Web of Science for studies evaluating the expression of GLUT1 and overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in patients with solid cancer from 1993 to April 2016. Data from published researches were extracted and computed into odds ratio (OR). A total of 26 studies including 2948 patients met our search criteria and were evaluated. Overexpression of GLUT1 was found to significantly correlate with poor 3-year OS (OR: 2.86; 95% CI, 1.90–4.32, P < 0.00001) and 5-year OS (OR: 2.52; 95% CI, 1.75–3.61, P < 0.00001) of solid tumors. Similar results were observed when analysis of DFS was performed. Subgroup analysis revealed that elevated GLUT1 expression was associated with worse prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma and breast cancer. Taken together, overexpression of GLUT1 is correlated with poor survival in most solid tumors, suggesting that the expression status of GLUT1 is a vital prognostic indicator and promising therapeutic target in solid tumors.

Early squamous cell lung carcinoma: prognostic biomarkers for the many

“…Subsequently, excessive expression of GLUT1 have been found in many types of tumours. These neoplasms with higher GLUT1 presence have usually a poorer prognosis than those with lower levels 20. A worst outcome also for patients expressing high levels of GLUT1 in SCC has been reported by the present study.…”

A HIF – LIMD 1 negative feedback mechanism mitigates the pro‐tumorigenic effects of hypoxia

“…Analysis of a TCGA lung adenocarcinoma cohort determined an inverse correlation between expression of LIMD1 and HIF target genes SLC2A1 , GAPDH and IGF2BP2 . Overexpression of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT‐1), the uniporter protein encoded by the SLC2A1 gene, is correlated with poor survival in most solid tumours (Wang et al , ), and selective GLUT‐1 inhibition has been demonstrated to inhibit glucose uptake and reduce viability of lung adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma cell lines in vitro and in vivo (Goodwin et al , ). Correlative studies have also determined upregulation or de novo expression of the IGF2BP family of oncofetal proteins across a number of solid tumours to be associated with tumour aggressiveness, metastasis and poorer overall survival (Bell et al , ).…”

Multiplexed Non-invasive in vivo Imaging to Assess Metabolism and Receptor Engagement in Tumor Xenografts

“…50 What makes it especially relevant is that GLUT1 expression is upregulated by hypoxia-induced factor 1 (HIF-1) and is highly correlated with poor prognosis and survival in most solid tumors. 51,52 In summary, these results demonstrate for the first time the utility of QC-1 for multiplexed NIR FRET-MFLI imaging in living intact mice carrying tumor xenografts. 2-DG is useful for delineation of tumor margins thus eliminating the reliance on donor intensity-based ROI selection.…”