From the Guidelines
Yes, GLUT-1 is strongly associated with infantile hemangiomas, particularly in multifocal and diffuse lesions, which express GLUT-1 and may biologically distinguish them from focal lesions. According to the study published in Hepatology in 2014 1, infantile hemangioma (IH) has three categories: focal lesions, multifocal lesions, and diffuse lesions, and multifocal and diffuse lesions express GLUT-1. This association is significant because GLUT-1 positivity helps differentiate infantile hemangiomas from other vascular anomalies.
Key Points
- GLUT-1 is a reliable diagnostic marker for infantile hemangiomas
- Multifocal and diffuse lesions express GLUT-1, which may distinguish them from focal lesions
- The presence of GLUT-1 in hemangiomas has biological significance, suggesting a possible developmental link between placental tissue and hemangioma formation
- Clinically, GLUT-1 staining is used in pathology to confirm the diagnosis of infantile hemangiomas when necessary
The most recent and highest quality study on this topic is not directly provided, but based on the available evidence, the association between GLUT-1 and infantile hemangiomas is well established. The study from 2014 1 provides the most relevant information on this topic, and its findings are consistent with the example answers provided.
Clinical Implications
- GLUT-1 staining can be used to confirm the diagnosis of infantile hemangiomas
- The presence of GLUT-1 can help differentiate infantile hemangiomas from other vascular anomalies
- The association between GLUT-1 and infantile hemangiomas has implications for our understanding of the biology and development of these tumors.
From the Research
Association between Glut-1 and Hemangioma
- Glut-1 is a definitive and diagnostic marker for infantile hemangioma (IH), a vascular tumor of infancy 2, 3.
- Studies have shown that Glut-1-positive endothelial cells in IH exhibit features of facultative stem cells, including clonogenicity and the ability to differentiate into various cell types 2.
- The expression of Glut-1 in IH is not limited to endothelial cells, but is also found in other cell types, such as pericytes and smooth muscle cells 2.
- Glut-1 immunoreactivity is a highly selective and diagnostically useful marker for juvenile hemangiomas, distinguishing them from vascular malformations and other lesions 3.
Glut-1 Expression in Hemangioma
- Glut-1 is expressed in the endothelial cells of IH, and its expression is correlated with the proliferative phase of the tumor 3.
- The expression of Glut-1 in IH is thought to be related to the hypoxic environment of the tumor, which upregulates the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha and other genes involved in angiogenesis 4.
- Glut-1-positive endothelial cells in IH are sensitive to propranolol, a non-selective beta-blocker that is used to treat IH 5, 2.
- The expression of Glut-1 in IH is also correlated with the response to propranolol treatment, with Glut-1-positive cells showing a significant reduction in proliferation and induction of apoptosis in response to propranolol 2.