Lidia Bieniasz, Dorota Bartusik-Aebisher and David Aebisher
Medical College of The University of Rzeszów, Rzeszów, Poland

Part of the book: The Biochemical Guide to Proteins

Abstract

SGLT1 and GLUT1 are involved in various glucose transport mechanisms to maintain glucose homeostasis in the body. In addition to glucose, SGLT1 protein also has a high affinity for galactose, therefore it plays an important role in the absorption of the small intestine. The tumor cell response to increased glucose requirements, in particular, increases the expression of membrane glucose transporters. Expression of SGLT and GLUT proteins in normal cells is characterized by high tissue specificity. Based on literature data in squamous cell carcinoma tissues of tongue cancer patients, immunohistochemistry showed increased SGLT1 expression and a high correlation between SGLT1 and EGFR expression. The discoveries and understanding of SGLT in neoplastic cells to date may help in the development of new anticancer therapies using SGLT1 or SGLT2 inhibitors already used in the treatment of diabetes.

Keywords: C-terminal domain SGLT1, head and neck cancers, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), metastasize

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