title: Hypoxia-related proteins in patients with rectal cancer undergoing neoadjuvant combined modality therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We have previously demonstrated the prognostic significance of rectal cancer pathologic response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation. Recent studies in other cancers have reported that hypoxia influences response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to 1) characterize hypoxia-related protein expression in locally advanced rectal cancer before neoadjuvant chemoradiation, 2) determine the comodulation of hypoxia-related protein expression, and 3) evaluate the relationship between hypoxia-related protein expression and overall survival, time to recurrence, and tumor regression grade.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunohistochemical analysis of 4 hypoxia-related proteins (HIF-1α, CA-IX, VEGF, and GLUT-1) was performed on archival pretreatment rectal cancer biopsies.
  
  
  METHODS
  : Eighty-five patients with locally advanced rectal cancer treated with neoadjuvant radiation and 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy were included.
  
  
  METHODS
  The impact of hypoxia-related protein expression on outcome was evaluated by use of Cox proportional hazards model. Hypoxia-related protein expression was correlated with tumor regression grade by use of Spearman correlation coefficients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median follow-up was 54 months. CA-IX expression was associated with overall survival (p = 0.01). HIF-1α expression was weakly correlated with VEGF (r = 0.26, p = 0.02) and GLUT-1 (r = 0.35, p = 0.001). Hypoxia-related protein expression was not associated with time to recurrence or Mandard tumor regression grade.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elevated CA-IX expression may be associated with poorer overall survival in locally advanced rectal cancer treated by neoadjuvant chemoradiation and resection. The expression of the hypoxia-related proteins HIF-1α, VEGF, and GLUT-1 may be comodulated in locally advanced rectal cancer. Further studies are needed to evaluate the mechanisms governing hypoxia regulation and the role of hypoxia in rectal cancer response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, USA.
authors.forename: Steven A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Lee-Kong
authors.forename: Jeannine A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ruby
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Chessin
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pucciarelli
authors.forename: Jinru
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shia
authors.forename: Elyn R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Riedel
authors.forename: Donato
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nitti
authors.forename: José G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Guillem
mesh_terms: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000071231:Carbonic Anhydrase IX; D002256:Carbonic Anhydrases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D059186:Chemoradiotherapy, Adjuvant; D005260:Female; D051272:Glucose Transporter Type 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000378:metabolism; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012007:Rectum / Q000601:surgery; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D051272:Glucose Transporter Type 1; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C089226:CA9 protein, human; D000071231:Carbonic Anhydrase IX; D002256:Carbonic Anhydrases