Immunohistochemical expression of human erythrocyte glucose transporter and fatty acid synthase in infiltrating breast carcinomas and adjacent typical/atypical hyperplastic or normal breast tissue

To evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of GLUT1, human erythrocyte glucose transporter 1, and fatty acid synthase (FAS), 66 human breast carci nomas and adjacent peritumoral tissue were studied GLUT1 and FAS were expre ssed in 53 and 61 carcinomas, in 17 and 14 typical/atypical hyperplastic ti ssues, and in 16 and 13 tissues adjacent to tumor normal breast tissue, res pectively. Statistical analysis revealed association between invasive carci nomas, invasive carcinomas with in situ component and GLUT1 immunostaining. GLUT1 staining was associated with tumor grade, FAS with tumor stage, and GLUT1 and FAS coexpression with tumor grade. Controls expressed no immunost aining. GLUT1 and FAS are new markers involved in the biologic activities o f cancer cells. GLUT1 and FAS coexpression may indicate increased use of en ergy by the neoplastic cells correlated with poorly differentiated features and aggressive behavior The innovative finding that GLUT1 and FAS are obse rved in mammary carcinoma adjacent nonneoplastic tissues may suggest a role in detecting initial phases of breast carcinogenesis.