Korean J Urol.  2001 Dec;42(12):1241-1245.

Expression of the Human Erythrocyte Glucose Transporter (Glut-1) in Renal Cell Carcinoma

• Kim CS
• Lee SJ
• Kim YW

Abstract

PURPOSE: The objective of this work is to determine whether the degree of expression of Human Erythrocyte Glucose Transporter (Glut-1) protein might correlate with survival rate, tumor stage and pathologic findings in renal cell carcinoma (RCC).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
94 patients who underwent radical nephrectomy at our department for RCC were included in this retrospective study. Biologic significance of Glut-1 immunohistochemical staining according to the survival rate, tumor stage and pathologic findings in patients with RCC was evaluated. Immunohistochemical staining was performed using a primary antibody which was polyclonal rabbit anti-human Glut-1.
RESULTS
In 67 of 94 patients, Glut-1 staining was demonstrated in the plasma membrane of cancer cells. Positive staining of Glut-1 in clear cell type was significantly higher than chromophobe type and chromophill type (p=0.01, 0.04). Positive staining for Glut-1 did not show any significant difference between localized and metastatic RCC. Positive staining for Glut-1 did not show any significant difference with tumor stage (p=0.09) or nuclear grade (p=0.20) or survival rate in localized RCC.
CONCLUSIONS
In summary, Glut-1 protein express not in the normal portion of kidney but in the RCC. Expression of Glut-1 protein does not correlate with tumor stage, nuclear grade, or survival rate. These findings suggest that RCC may have another type of glucose transporter.

Keyword

Glucose transporter; Immunohistochemistry; Prognosis; Renal cell carcinoma

MeSH Terms

Carcinoma, Renal Cell*
Cell Membrane
Erythrocytes*
Glucose Transport Proteins, Facilitative
Glucose Transporter Type 1*
Humans*
Immunohistochemistry
Kidney
Nephrectomy
Prognosis
Retrospective Studies
Survival Rate
Glucose Transport Proteins, Facilitative
Glucose Transporter Type 1