Expression of GLUT1 in Neoplastic Cells of Papillary Thyroid Cancer

Abstract

OBJECTIVEGlucose transporter 1(GLUT1), as a member of the glucose transport facilitator family, has a role insome cancers. The present study aimed to investigate the expression level of GLUT1 in papillary thyroidcancer.METHODSThis cross-sectional study was conducted in 2016 on tissue samples of patients, aged 18-60 years old,recently diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer based on the WHO criteria. Anti-GLUT1 rat monoclonal antibody and LSAB Kit were used for immunohistochemistry. The intensity of marker expressionwas classified into three levels as follows: low, moderate and high. Other microscopic parameters, suchas capsule invasion and tumor type, were also studied.RESULTSThe present study was conducted in 67 patients (mean age: 37.2±10.3 years old), including 37 (55.2%)female patients. GLUT1 was expressed in all participants with papillary thyroid cancer, and high levels were observed in 64.2% of the patients. The elevated expression level was more frequent in men(p=0.04); however, no significant relationship was found between the expression level of GLUT1 and thepattern, capsule invasion, and lymph node metastases (p>0.05). We observed no significant relationshipbetween mean age and mean tumor size of patients with different expression levels of GLUT1.CONCLUSIONGLUT1 was expressed at high levels in many patients with papillary thyroid cancer. However, there wasno significant relationship between the expression of marker and tumor properties.