GLUT1, GLUT3 Expression and 18FDG-PET/CT in Human Malignant Melanoma: What Relationship Exists? New Insights and Perspectives

Abstract

Background: Malignant melanoma is the most aggressive of skin cancers and the 19th most common cancer worldwide, with an estimated age-standardized incidence rate of 2.8–3.1 per 100,000; although there have been clear advances in therapeutic treatment, the prognosis of MM patients with Breslow thickness greater than 1 mm is still quite poor today. The study of how melanoma cells manage to survive and proliferate by consuming glucose has been partially addressed in the literature, but some rather interesting results are starting to be present. Methods: A systematic review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and a search of PubMed and Web of Sciences (WoS) databases was performed until 27 September 2021 using the terms: glucose transporter 1 and 3 and GLUT1/3 in combination with each of the following: melanoma, neoplasm and immunohistochemistry. Results: In total, 46 records were initially identified in the literature search, of which six were duplicates. After screening for eligibility and inclusion criteria, 16 publications were ultimately included. Conclusions: the results discussed regarding the role and expression of GLUT are still far from definitive, but further steps toward understanding and stopping this mechanism have, at least in part, been taken. New studies and new discoveries should lead to further clarification of some aspects since the various mechanisms of glucose uptake by neoplastic cells are not limited to the transporters of the GLUT family alone.

The αMSH-Dependent PI3K Pathway Supports Energy Metabolism, via Glucose Uptake, in Melanoma Cells

“…Glut-1 is frequently found over-expressed in tumor cell membranes, including melanomas [ 31 ]. How melanoma cells manage to survive and proliferate by consuming glucose has been partially addressed in the literature, but some rather interesting results have been presented [ 50 ]. Different studies have demonstrated an Important connection between PI3K activity and membrane translocation of Gluts [ 21 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 ].…”

Noncoding RNAs in the Glycolysis of Ovarian Cancer

“…P53 can inhibit GLUT1 expression in cells, resulting in decreased glucose uptake and thus inhibiting tumor development ( Feng et al, 2018 ). GLUT3 is expressed in most cancer cells but rarely in normal cells, facilitating glucose consumption ( Cazzato et al, 2021 ; Libby et al, 2021 ). Targeting GLUT can inhibit the degree of aerobic glycolysis, affecting tumorigenesis ( Fu et al, 2021 ; Kim E et al, 2021 ).…”