Predictive value of glucose transporter-1 and glucose transporter-3 for survival of cancer patients: A meta-analysis

// Xiu Chen 2, * , Peng Lu 3, * , Siying Zhou 1, * , Lei Zhang 4 , Jian-hua Zhao 5 , Jin-hai Tang 1, 2 1 The First Clinical School of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China 2 Department of General Surgery, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China 3 School of Public Health Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China 4 Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China 5 Center of Clinical Laboratory Science, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China * These authors have contributed equally to this work Correspondence to: Jin-hai Tang, email: jschjhtang@163.com Keywords: glucose transporter, GLUT, survival, cancer, meta-analysis Received: July 14, 2016 Accepted: December 27, 2016 Published: January 10, 2017 ABSTRACT Background and Objective: The role of glucose transporters in cancers remains contradictory. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the association between overall survival and glucose transporter s (GLUTs) 1 and 3 to find an accurate prognostic biomarker. Methods: We systematically searched the PubMed, EMbase and Medline databases for relevant published studies that were consistent with the eligible criteria up to January 2016, and calculated pooled estimated hazard ratios of GLUT-1 and -3's expressions in different cancer types and ethnic populations. Random-effects models were used to assess estimates from studies with significant heterogeneities. Results: Overall, 12 studies concerning GLUT 1 and 2 studies concerning GLUT 3, which involved 2008 participants when combined, were included in this analysis. We found that overexpression of GLUTs were significantly correlated to poorer survival rates (HR=1.63, 95%CI=1.09-2.44 and HR=1.89, 95%CI=1.28-2.81). In the subgroup analysis, the GLUT 1 up-regulation was correlated with negative overall survival in pancreatic cancer and gastric cancer and with better overall survival in colorectal cancer. In addition, overexpression of GLUT 1 was associated with a poorer prognosis in the Asian population, while no significance was found in the non-Asian subgroup. However, limitations do exist, which could be handled better. Conclusions: A combination of GLUTs 1 and 3 might help predict malignancy of cancers and direct effective cancer therapy.