Background: This study aimed to examine the prognostic relevance of glucose transporter type 1 (GLUT-1), which is a key regulator of the glucose metabolism. In particular, the study aimed to examine the association between GLUT-1 expression and the therapeutic effect of chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).
Methods: Patients with PDAC were enrolled in the study. Patients with distant metastases and those who received only chemotherapy as treatment were excluded from the study. Specimens for immunohistochemical evaluations were obtained through surgical resection and endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) of the primary tumor before any treatment.
Results: This study included 197 patients. Of these 197 patients, 100 underwent upfront surgery, and 97 received neoadjuvant CRT (NACRT), which was performed mainly for patients with locally advanced tumors. Of the 97 patients who received NACRT, 21 later underwent surgical resection. For the patients who underwent upfront surgery, low GLUT-1 expression was an independent factor for a better prognosis. For the patients who underwent NACRT, low GLUT-1 expression was significantly associated with greater tumor size reduction, a higher resection rate, and a better prognosis. Additionally, GLUT-1 expression was significantly increased after NACRT treatment.
Conclusions: Among the patients with PDAC, those with low GLUT-1 expression in the primary tumor had a better prognosis those with high GLUT-1 expression. Moreover, the patients with low GLUT-1 expression displayed a better therapeutic response to NACRT.