Glucose erythrocyte transporter in women with breast cancer: Changes in lipid composition of erythrocyte membrane

Women with breast cancer show altered blood glucose compartmentation compar ed with healthy women, with lower concentrations in plasma and similar conc entrations in blood cells. The goal of this paper was to study whether this pattern was the result of changes in the erythrocyte glucose transporter a nd, if so, to assess the possible changes in lipid environment of the eryth rocyte membrane. In 12 women with different degrees of breast cancer and 12 age-matched healthy women, the lipid composition of erythrocyte membrane a nd erythrocyte glucose transport were studied. Women with breast cancer sho wed changes in both the kinetic variables and the lipid environment of the glucose transporter, in keeping with an increase in fluidity of the erythro cyte membrane. The results obtained would account, in part, for the changes in glucose compartmentation.