OVEREXPRESSION OF GLUT1 AND GLUT3 IN STAGE-I NONSMALL CELL LUNG-CARCINOMA IS ASSOCIATED WITH POOR SURVIVAL

BACKGROUND. Increased expression of Glut1 and Gluts has been reported in many human cancers, including nonsmall cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). The aim of this study was to determine the biologic significance of G lut1 and Gluts overexpression in Stage I NSCLC. METHODS. Using immunoh istochemistry and polyclonal anti-Glut1 and anti-Glut3 antibodies, the authors immunostained sections of formalin fixed, paraffin embedded t issues from 289 Stage I NSCLCs. The Kaplan-Meier survival method, the log rank test, and Fisher's exact test were used for statistical analy sis. RESULTS, Of the 289 cases, 49 (17%) were negative for both Glut1 and Gluts, 239 (83%) were Glut1 positive, 61 (21%) were Gluts positive , 179 (62%) were positive for Glut1 but negative for Gluts, 1 (0.3%) w as positive for Gluts but negative for Glut1, and 60 (21%) were positi ve for both Glut1 and Gluts. Only 1 of 50 Glut1 negative tumors (2%) w as positive for Gluts, whereas 60 of 239 Glut1 positive tumors (25%) w ere positive for Gluts (P < 0.0001). Glut1 or Gluts were detected more often in poorly differentiated and undifferentiated tumors (P < 0.000 1 and P = 0.0008, respectively). Overexpression of Glut1 and/or Gluts was associated with poorer survival (P = 0.0133), especially in patien ts with well-differentiated and moderately differentiated tumors (P = 0.0017). CONCLUSIONS. In Stage I NSCLC, Gluts overexpression likely oc curs after Glut1 overexpression. The appearance of Glut1 positive clon es is associated with aggressive biologic behavior, which is worsened by the emergence of Glut3 positive clones. Glut1 and Gluts are signifi cant of poor prognosis indicators in cases of NSCLC. (C) 1997 American Cancer Society.