Glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) expression is associated with intestinal type of gastric carcinoma

Increased expression of glucose transporter1 (GLUT1) has been reported in m any human cancers. We hypothesized that the degree of GLUT1 might provide a useful biological information in gastric adenocarcinoma, RT-PCR and immuno staining were used to analyze GLUT1 expression in gastric cancer. RT-PCR sh owed GLUT1 expression was not largely detected in normal gastric tissue but was detected in cancerous gastric tissue of counterpart. By immunohistoche mistry, GLUT1 protein was absent in normal gastric epithelium and intestina l metaplasia. 11 of 65 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma had specific GL UT1 immunostaining in a plasma membrane pattern with varied intensities. GL UT1 protein did not show any significant correlation with tumor stage and n odal metastasis (p>0.05 by Mann-Whitney test). However, the positive immuno staining for GLUT1 is associated with intestinal differentiation (p=0.003). Our results suggest that GLUT1 protein is associated with intestinal type of gastric cancer.