GLUT-1 overexpression as an unfavorable prognostic biomarker in patients with colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND Glucose transporter-1 (GLUT-1) exhibits altered expression in colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of this study was to explore the association between GLUT-1 and survival conditions, as well as clinical features in CRC by meta-analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS Relevant studies were searched through predefined strategies, hazard ratios (HRs), odds ratios (ORs), and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used as effective measures. RESULTS A total of 14 studies with 2,077 patients were included in this meta-analysis. The results showed that GLUT-1 was not significantly associated with overall survival (OS) (HR=1.28, 95% CI=0.86-1.91, p=0.22) or disease-free survival (DFS) (HR=1.71, 95% CI=0.78-3.72, p=0.179). However, subgroup analysis indicated that GLUT-1 was a significant biomarker for poor DFS in rectal cancer (HR=2.47, 95% CI=1.21-5.05, p=0.013). GLUT-1 expression was also found to be significantly correlated with the presence of lymph node metastasis (n=8, OR=2.14, 95% CI=1.66-2.75, p<0.001), T stage (n=6, OR=1.73, 95% CI=1.17-2.58, p=0.007), higher Dukes stage (n=5, OR=2.92, 95% CI=2.16-3.95, p<0.001), female sex (n=4, OR=2.92, 95% CI=2.16-3.95, p<0.001), and presence of liver metastasis (n=3, OR=1.82, 95% CI=1.06-3.12, p=0.03). CONCLUSION In conclusion, this meta-analysis showed that GLUT-1 was associated with poor DFS in rectal cancer (RC). Furthermore, GLUT-1 was also an indicator of aggressive clinical features in CRC.