Immunohistochemical evaluation of Glut1 in dentigerous cysts, odontogenic keratocysts, and ameloblastoma

Context: Glucose uptake may be considered the rate-limiting step for the growth and metabolism of the cancer cell. Studies on GLUT1 have shown that GLUT1 is involved in cell survival and proliferation in both healthy and pathological circumstances. GLUT1 expression is regarded as one of the crucial elements in the development of local aggressiveness, tumour invasiveness, and metastasis, particularly in malignant tumours. The role of glut1 in odontogenic cysts and tumours has remained uncertain.

Aim: The aim of the study is to assess the expression of Glut1 in dentigerous cysts, odontogenic keratocysts, and ameloblastoma.

Settings and design: The study was conducted in GSL Dental College. The study design was a resprospective immunohistochemical study.

Methods and material: Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded blocks of histologically confirmed cases (n = 50), 10 cases of odontogenic keratocysts, dentigerous cysts, ameloblastomas solid, ameloblastomas unicystic, and dental follicles each. Brown colour staining was considered as positive staining for GLUT1. Quantitative analysis was performed by counting the number of labelled cells, and semi-quantitative analysis was conducted by assigning immunostaining intensity scores.

Statistical analysis: Chi-square test was used to compare differences between the groups. A P value of ≤0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

Results: Odontogenic keratocysts and unicystic ameloblastoma showed ≥50% of label cells with strong intensity of staining. Odontogenic keratocysts and solid ameloblastoma showed sub-cellular localisation of staining in the cytoplasm and membrane. Dentigerous cysts exhibited combined nucleus, cytoplasm, and membrane sub-cellular localisation of staining.

Conclusions: The development of ameloblastomas, odontogenic keratocysts, and dentigerous cysts appears to be influenced by GLUT-1. Variation in its expression may aid in explanation of some of the differences in biological activity of these lesions.