Expression of monocarboxylate transporters in gallbladder cancer and their prognostic clinical significance

Objective: Gallbladder cancer (GBC), one of the most common and aggressive malignancies of the biliary duct, is associated with a dismal prognosis. Monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) have been reported to play critical roles in the development and progression of cancer. The present study investigated the expression of the MCT isoforms 1, 2 and 4 and explored their roles in GBC. Methods: We evaluated the protein expression levels of MCT1, 2 and 4 in 80 samples of histologically confirmed GBC tissues and analysed the relationships between their expression levels and clinicopathological parameters and their prognostic significance. Results: The results from IHC analysis showed that expression of MCT1, MCT2 and MCT4 was significantly higher in GBC tissues than in adjacent normal tissues. Interestingly, overexpression of MCT1 and MCT4 was associated with lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis and poor survival. Moreover, high levels of MCT1 may be an independent predictor of unfavorable survival in patients with GBC. Conclusion: Overexpressed MCTs may play critical roles in GBC. MCT1 and MCT4 expression may be associated with GBC regional and distant metastases. MCT1 and MCT4 may be potential targets for improving treatments for GBC.