Solute carrier family 2 members 1 and 2 as prognostic biomarkers in hepatocellular carcinoma associated with immune infiltration

BACKGROUND Metabolic reprogramming has been identified as a core hallmark of cancer. Solute carrier family 2 is a major glucose carrier family. It consists of 14 members, and we mainly study solute carrier family 2 member 1 (SLC2A1) and solute carrier family 2 member 2 (SLC2A2) here. SLC2A1, mainly existing in human erythrocytes, brain endothelial cells, and normal placenta, was found to be increased in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), while SLC2A2, the major transporter of the normal liver, was decreased in HCC. AIM To identify if SLC2A1 and SLC2A2 were associated with immune infiltration in addition to participating in the metabolic reprogramming in HCC. METHODS The expression levels of SLC2A1 and SLC2A2 were tested in HepG2 cells, HepG215 cells, and multiple databases. The clinical characteristics and survival data of SLC2A1 and SLC2A2 were examined by multiple databases. The correlation between SLC2A1 and SLC2A2 was analyzed by multiple databases. The functions and pathways in which SLC2A1, SLC2A2, and frequently altered neighbor genes were involved were discussed in String. Immune infiltration levels and immune marker genes associated with SLC2A1 and SLC2A2 were discussed from multiple databases. RESULTS The expression level of SLC2A1 was up-regulated, but the expression level of SLC2A2 was down-regulated in HepG2 cells, HepG215 cells, and liver cancer patients. The expression levels of SLC2A1 and SLC2A2 were related to tumor volume, grade, and stage in HCC. Interestingly, the expression levels of SLC2A1 and SLC2A2 were negatively correlated. Further, high SLC2A1 expression and low SLC2A2 expression were linked to poor overall survival and relapse-free survival. SLC2A1, SLC2A2, and frequently altered neighbor genes played a major role in the occurrence and development of tumors. Notably, SLC2A1 was positively correlated with tumor immune infiltration, while SLC2A2 was negatively correlated with tumor immune infiltration. Particularly, SLC2A2 methylation was positively correlated with lymphocytes. CONCLUSION SLC2A1 and SLC2A2 are independent therapeutic targets for HCC, and they are quintessential marker molecules for predicting and regulating the number and status of immune cells in HCC.