PMC

Representative immunohistochemical reactions for intensity score 0, 1, 2 and 3 for MCT1, MCT4 and CD147 expression in non-EEC tumours. The expression of MCT1 was localized to the cytoplasm, the plasma membrane or both locations. MCT4 and CD147 expression was always observed in the plasma membrane with some level of cytoplasmic staining. Scale bars represent 50 μm

Kaplan-Meier survival analysis for MCT1 expression using unadjusted and grade stratified models. Recurrence-free, cancer specific and overall survival is shown for unadjusted model in (a, b and c); in grade III tumours (from grade stratified model) only (d, e and f), respectively. High MCT1 expression significantly reduced overall survival in c unadjusted and f in grade III tumours. The events for each arm are shown in insets (event/total, %)

Representative examples of MCT1, MCT4 and CD147 distribution and subcellular localization in EC tumours. a MCT1 and b MCT4 were found to dominate different zones of the same tumour, peripheral and central zones, respectively. c CD147 expression was observed in the same zone with MCT1. In some, strong glandular staining for d MCT1 and g MCT4 was observed with no stromal staining. In others, stromal expression of e MCT1 and h MCT4 were higher than glandular staining. Some tumours showed similar levels of f MCT1 and i MCT4 expression in both glandular and stromal tumour compartments. In more than half of the tumours, nuclear MCT1 staining (j and k) was observed. Arrows indicate stromal compartment between malignant glands. Scale bars represent 500 μm, 100 μm and 50 μm in (a-c), (d-i) and (j-k), respectively