Glucose transporter isoform 1 (GLUT1) expression in melanoma enhances formation and growth of hepatic metastases

GLUT1 is the key rate-limiting factor in glucose transport into cancer cells. We aimed to analyze whether GLUT1 expression in cancer cells and a high capacity for glucose uptake, respectively, affect hepatic metastasis. For that, we used malignant melanoma as a model-tumor, which is known to preferentially metastasize to the liver. Methods and Results: Similar as observed in HCC, GLUT1 expression was enhanced in melanoma cell lines compared to primary melanocytes, as well as in melanoma compared to naevi. Furthermore, immunohistochemical analysis of a tissue microarray consisting of 140 human melanoma tissues sh…