Objective: To investigate the expression of glucose transporter 1 (Glut1) in human breast cancer and its relationship to proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) protein, other tumor biomarkers and clinical pathologic factors.
Methods: Imunohistochemical staining (SP) was applied to measure the expression of Glut1 and PCNA in 20 cases of human breast fibroadenoma, 20 cases of usual hyperplasia and 80 cases of breast carcinoma.
Results: Glut1 was not found expressing in breast fibroadenoma and hyperplastic lesions. In contrast, the total positive rate of Glut1 in breast carcinoma was 58.8% (47/80); that in the ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) was 45.0% (9/20), that in the well-differentiated invasive carcinoma was 50.0% (15/30) and that in the poorly differentiated was 76.7% (23/30). The total positive rate of PCNA in breast carcinoma was 75% (60/80), that in DCIS was 65% (13/20) and that in invasive carcinoma was 78.3% (47/60). There was a positive correlation between Glut1 and PCNA level (r = 0.742, P (< 0.01).
Conclusion: The overexpression of Glut1 play important roles in carcinogenesis and progression of breast carcinoma and closely correlate with cell proliferation of breast carcinoma, may suggest different therapeutic approaches or the need for closer follow-up, and be wished to become a new target for treatment of breast carcinoma.