Expression of transketolase-like 1 (TKTL1) and p-Akt correlates with the progression of cervical neoplasia

Aim: It is supposed that increased glycolysis is crucial for the energy supply during tumor progression. Unfortunately, the relevance of glycolysis in cervical neoplasia is unknown, but what is certain is the fact that cervical cancer shows a high expression of glucose membrane transporters, which are necessary for glucose uptake as an energy source. Transketolase‐like enzyme 1 (TKTL1) and the oncogene p‐Akt have been described to play an important role in glycolysis during tumorigenesis. Thus, we were interested in their expression in cervical tissue. Methods: We examined the expression of TKTL1 and p‐Akt in 80 formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded cervical specimens: 20 benign cervical tissues, 20 low‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, 20 high‐grade intraepithelial lesions, and 20 invasive squamous cell carcinomas (ISCC). Results: Immunhistochemical analyses revealed that the intensity of the expression of TKTL1 and p‐Akt increases significantly with an increase in the histopathological grade of cervical tissues. Conclusion: The results suggest that both TKTL1 and p‐Akt play an important role in the progression of cervical neoplasia, which may be due to their impact on glycolysis.