These results are in contrast to some other studies on colon and rectum tumours that can be summarised by the observation that HIF1α and GLUT1 expression in rectal cancer cells is of prognostic significance (Haber et al, 1998; Yoshimura et al, 2004; Lu et al, 2006; Theodoropoulos et al, 2006). This evidence concerns the gene SLC2A1 and digestive system neoplasm.