Open AccessPrognostic value of glycolysis markers in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a meta-analysis
Author(s) -
Yanting Wang,
Yuanyuan Li,
Laibo Jiang,
Xianyue Ren,
Bin Cheng,
Juan Xia
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
aging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.473
H-Index - 90
ISSN - 1945-4589
DOI - 10.18632/aging.202583
Subject(s) - pkm2 , oncology , medicine , glut1 , head and neck squamous cell carcinoma , glucose transporter , cancer research , glycolysis , head and neck cancer , pyruvate kinase , cancer , metabolism , insulin
Glycolysis markers including glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), monocarboxylate transporter 4 (MCT4), hexokinase 2 (HK2), pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) play vital roles in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, their prognostic value in HNSCC is still controversial. In this meta-analysis, we searched the PubMed, Web of Science and Cochrane Library databases and included thirty-seven studies (3272 patients) that met the inclusion criteria. Higher expression levels of the glycolysis markers in tumor tissues correlated with poorer overall survival (OS; P < 0.001), disease-free survival (DFS; P = 0.03) and recurrence-free survival (RFS; P < 0.001) of HNSCC patients. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses demonstrated that higher expression levels of GLUT1 ( P < 0.001), MCT4 ( P = 0.002), HK2 ( P = 0.002) and PKM2 ( P < 0.001) correlated with poorer OS among HNSCC patients. Higher expression of MCT4 ( P < 0.001) and PKM2 ( P = 0.008) predicted poorer DFS among HNSCC patients. However, GLUT4 expression levels did not associate with clinical outcomes in HNSCC patients. These results demonstrate that glycolysis markers, such as GLUT1, MCT4, HK2 and PKM2, are potential prognostic predictors and therapeutic targets in HNSCC.