Relationships between expression of glucose transporter protein-1 and hypoxia inducible factor-1α, prognosis and (18)F-FDG uptake in laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinomas

BACKGROUND: We investigated the relationships between glucose transporter protein-1 (GLUT-1) and hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) expression, 2-deoxy-2-[(18)F]-fluoro-D-glucose ((18)F-FDG) uptake and prognosis in laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinomas patients. METHODS: Levels of GLUT-1 and HIF-1α proteins were examined by immunohistochemistry in 55 patients with laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinomas. All patients underwent (18)F-FDG positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT) before surgery. RESULTS: Levels of GLUT-1 and HIF-1α in laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinomas were significantly higher than in vocal cord polyps. GLUT-1 expression was correlated with HIF-1α expression (r=0.571, P<0.001) and SUV(max) (r=0.495, P<0.001). HIF-1α expression was not correlated with SUV(max) (P=0.199). HIF-1α expression was correlated with tumor size (r=0.351, P=0.009). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that treatment method (P=0.025), tumor size (P=0.008), GLUT-1 expression (P=0.032), and HIF-1α expression (P=0.032) were correlated with overall survival (OS). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment method, tumor size, GLUT-1 and HIF-1α levels were correlated with prognosis in laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinomas patients.