Characterization of GLUT1 expression in aggressive B cell lymphomas

• Grant number: 21/09673-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2021
• End date: May 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Metabolism and Bioenergetics
• Principal Investigator: Céline Marques Pinheiro
• Grantee: Farid Cury Neto
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde de Barretos Dr Paulo Prata (FACISB). Barretos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Lymphomas are neoplasms that arise from B or T lymphocytes or Natural Killers cells and, in 2020, they accounted for 3.2% of all cancers. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is the most common lymphoid malignancy in adults, representing one of several lymphoma subtypes and the main aggressive B-cell lymphoma (ABCL). This neoplasm develops predominantly in immunosuppressed patients and/or who have suffered specific infections. The investigation of glycolytic metabolism reprogramming of tumor cells in order to favor biosynthetic processes resulted in the observation of an increase in the activity of the glycolytic pathway and in the production of lactate, regardless of the presence of oxygen (aerobic glycolysis). Thus, ABCL diagnostic tests were improved, with emphasis on the use of PET-CT, combined with the radiotracer and glucose analogue 18F-FDG, which enable the assessment of neoplastic tissue at the morphofunctional level. Thus, the increase in 18F-FDG uptake in ABCL suggests the remodeling of protein activities related to glucose metabolism in the tumor cell, such as GLUT1. Objectives: To evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of GLUT1 and its association with clinicopathological and survival data, and with semi-quantitative parameters related to 18F-FDG uptake. Methods: The current study is based on a longitudinal design with a retrospective collection of clinical and laboratory data and analysis of samples from ABCL biopsies, 18F-FDG PET-CT and semi-quantitative parameters related to the uptake of 18F-FDG by neoplastic tissue from about 100 patients with ABCL. Immunohistochemistry will be performed on paraffined sections of biopsies for the evaluation of GLUT1 expression, and, finally, statistical analysis using SPSS. (AU)