title: Expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is a transcription factor that plays an important role in tumor growth and metastasis by regulating energy metabolism and inducing angiogenesis. Elevated levels of HIF-1alpha, a subunit of HIF-1, are noted in various malignant tumors, but it is unclear whether this is so in esophageal carcinoma. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the implications of HIF-1alpha expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. In 215 patients with esophageal carcinoma, we examined immunoreactivity for HIF-1alpha protein, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein and p53 protein. In 38 patients, we examined the expression of HIF-1alpha messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) (using the semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCR]). A positive HIF-1alpha protein expression was recognized in 95% of the patients, and was strongly apparent within both the nuclei and/or cytoplasm of tumor cells. The proportion of patients in the 'high score' group for HIF-1alpha protein expression increased significantly with increasing VEGF protein expression. Immunoreactivity for HIF-1alpha protein was found to have a significant effect on disease-free survival rate in our univariate analysis, but no effect on overall survival rate. In RT-PCR, HIF-1alpha mRNA scores correlated significantly with scores for HIF-1alpha protein expression, but not with any clinicopathologic factor or either of the survival rates. The detection of HIF-1alpha protein and mRNA would appear to offer limited information as to progression and prognosis in esophageal carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery II, National Defense Medical College, Tokorozawa, Japan. tom-nao@pc4.so-net.ne.jp
authors.forename: Tomokazu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsuyama
authors.forename: Kuniaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakanishi
authors.forename: Takuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yoshizumi
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aiko
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sugiura
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanimoto
authors.forename: Maki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uenoyama
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ozeki
authors.forename: Tadaaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maehara
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*; D018450:Disease Progression; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D018257:Helix-Loop-Helix Motifs; D006801:Humans; D051793:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*; D011379:Prognosis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C497442:HIF1A protein, human; D051793:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors