Expression of Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1alpha in Invasive Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Uterine Cervix Treated by Radiotherapy.
- Author:
Kyung Ja LEE
1
;
Min Sun CHO
;
Seung Cheol KIM
;
Hae Sung MOON
;
Hyesook PARK
;
Shi Nae LEE
;
Sun Hee SUNG
;
Ki Nam SHIM
;
Kyung Eun LEE
;
Sung Ae JUNG
;
Kwon YOO
;
Hae Young PARK
;
Soo Yeun PARK
;
Eun Sun YOO
;
Hyun Suk SUH
Author Information
1. Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical Research Center, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Cervix Neoplasms;
Carcinoma, Squamous cell;
Hypoxia Inducible Factor 1;
Immunohistochemistry
- MeSH:
Anemia;
Anoxia*;
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell*;
Cell Proliferation;
Cervix Uteri*;
Drug Therapy;
Female;
Humans;
Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1;
Immunohistochemistry;
Multivariate Analysis;
Radiation Tolerance;
Radiotherapy*;
Uterine Cervical Neoplasms
- From:Korean Journal of Pathology
2005;39(5):307-312
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) is an intrinsic marker of tumor hypoxia, and this is associated with reduced radiosensitivity. Furthermore, HIF-1alpha can increase a tumor's aggressiveness by promoting neoangiogenesis, cell proliferation and survival, and invasion. METHODS: The expression of HIF-1alpha was was investigated by performing immunohistochemistry on the cervical tissue specimens obtained from 57 patients who had received radiotherapy combined with or without chemotherapy for stages I-III cervical squamous cell carcinoma. The staining results were compared with anemia, the stage, the radiotherapy response and patient survival by univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: In 57 patients, the expression of HIF-1alpha was seen in the tissue specimens of 46 patients (81.7%). Among them, 25 (54.3%), 14 (30.4%), and 7 (15.2%) of the patients' tissue specimens showed weak, moderate and strong expressions, respectively. Six patients had a partial response after radiotherapy. Twelve patients (21.1%) died of cervical cancer. The increased expression of HIF-1alpha was significantly associated (p<0.05) with the disease stage and anemia. There were significant positive correlations between the increased expression of HIF-1alpha and the poor response after radiotherapy and the patients' survival. CONCLUSIONS: The present result suggests that the overexpression of HIF-1alpha in the uterine cervix could be used as a prognostic indicator for the patients treated with radiotherapy.
