The Effect of GLUT1 on the Survival Rate and Immune Cell Infiltration of Lung Adenocarcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Meta and Bioinformatics Analysis

Abstract

Background: Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) are two major subtypes of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). Studies have shown that abnormal expression of glucose transport type 1 (GLUT1) in NSCLC patients has been associated with cancer progression, aggressiveness, and poor clinical outcome. However, the clinical effect of GLUT1 expression on LUAD and LUSC is unclear.

Objective: This study aims to learn more about the character of GLUT1 in LUAD and LUSC.

Methods: A meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the GLUT1 protein level, and the bioinformatics analysis was used to detect the GLUT1 mRNA expression level, survival differences, and the infiltration abundance of immune cells in samples from TCGA. Meanwhile, functional and network analysis was conducted to detect important signaling pathways and key genes with the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) dataset.

Results: Our results showed that GLUT1 was over-expressed both in LUAD and LUSC. LUAD patients with high GLUT1 expression had a poor prognosis. Additionally, GLUT1 was related to B cell and neutrophil infiltration of LUAD. In LUSC, GLUT1 was correlated with tumor purity, B cell, CD8+ T cell, CD4+ T cell, macrophage, neutrophil, and dendritic cell infiltration. The GEO dataset analysis results suggested GLUT1 potentially participated in the p53 signaling pathway and metabolism of xenobiotics through cytochrome P450 and was associated with KDR, TOX3, AGR2, FOXA1, ERBB3, ANGPT1, and COL4A3 gene in LUAD and LUSC.

Conclusion: GLUT1 might be a potential biomarker for aggressive progression and poor prognosis in LUAD, and a therapeutic biomarker in LUSC.

Keywords: Glucose transport type 1; immune cell infiltration; lung adenocarcinoma; lung squamous cell carcinoma; non-small cell lung cancer; survival rate.