Expressions of GLUT-1, PK-M2 and HIF-1α and Mutation Status of BRAF in Odontogenic Keratocysts

Objective: To investigate the expressions and clinicopathological features of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT-1), pyruvate kinase M2 (PK-M2) and hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) in odontogenic keratocysts (OKCs), and to investigate the mutation status of v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1 (BRAF).
Methods: Following a retrospective review of the clinicopathological data of 28 OKC cases, the expressions of GLUT-1, PK-M2 and HIF-1α in these tissue samples were detected through immunohistochemistry. The BRAF mutation statuses of all cases were examined using polymerase chain reaction amplification and direct sequencing.
Results: The expression levels of HIF-1α varied in 96.4% of OKC tissues, and there were higher positive rates of PKM2 (100%) and GLUT-1 (100%) in these tissues. None of the 28 OKC samples carried the BRAF mutation. Conclusion: The positive expressions of GLUT-1, PK-M2 and HIF-1α indicate that patients with OKCs undergo anaerobic glycolysis to a certain extent, but these processes appear to be irrelevant to clinicopathological features and to the BRAF mutation.