Prognostic significance of L-type amino acid transporter-1 (LAT-1) expression in human astrocytic gliomas

Abstract Background Gliomas are the most prevalent type of primary brain tumors. Clarifying the correlation between glioma markers and disease progression provide a basis for adjuvant treatments. We examined Isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) expression, Ki-67, programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT-1) with respect to overall survival in glioma patients. Methods Immunohistochemistry (IHC) results from 25 glioma samples were analyzed semi-quantitatively. By WHO criteria, eleven specimens were diagnosed as grade II, 7 as grade III, and 7 as grade IV. Grade II was classified as lower grade glioma (LGG); grade III-IV were classified as high grade glioma (HGG). Results In this study, immuno-characterization revealed HGG was associated with high Ki-67, PD-L1, and LAT-1 expression (p Conclusion LAT-1 and PD-L1 expression by HGG contribute to the disease progression. LAT-1 expression in astrocytic gliomas serves an independent prognosis factor. Therefore, LAT-1 and PD-L1 examination is potentially valuable diagnostic markers for adjuvant therapies.