title: Influence of hypoxia inducible factors on the immune microenvironment in ovarian cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ovarian tumors remain immunogenic even at advanced stages, but cancer-induced immunosuppression abrogates immune surveillance. The composition of the immune microenvironment in ovarian tumors was characterized by analyzing selected immunosuppressive factors in specimens from cancer patients. The influence of the hypoxia inducible factors on the immune microenvironment was also addressed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tumor tissue was collected from 21 ovarian cancer patients immediately following tumor excision during surgery. The mRNA expression of selected genes was quantified, and tumor infiltrating leukocytes were characterized by flow cytometry to identify regulatory T-cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and type-2 macrophages.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, a pronounced heterogeneity was found among the analyzed samples. Nevertheless, statistical analysis revealed that the expression of hypoxia inducible factors correlated with the transcription levels of several immunosuppressive molecules.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The activity of hypoxia inducible factors contributes to cancer immunosuppression in ovarian cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Centre of Molecular and Macromolecular Studies, Polish Academy of Sciences, Lodz, Poland mduchler@cbmm.lodz.pl.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Duechler
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Centre of Molecular and Macromolecular Studies, Polish Academy of Sciences, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Lukasz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Peczek
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of the Medical University of Lodz, Clinical Department of Operative and Oncological Gynaecology, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Szubert
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of the Medical University of Lodz, Clinical Department of Operative and Oncological Gynaecology, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Suzin
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002288:Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D018284:Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D022423:Myeloid Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment; D000099162:Endothelial PAS Domain-Containing Protein 1
chemical_list: D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000099162:Endothelial PAS Domain-Containing Protein 1; C497442:HIF1A protein, human
keywords: Cancer immunosuppression; cancer hypoxia; human ovarian cancer; immune microenvironment; surgical specimen