title: Hypoxia-inducible factor 1α expression and its clinical significance in pancreatic cancer: a meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pancreatic cancer is characterized by inadequate vascularization and considerable tumor hypoxia is prevalent. However, whether hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) is significantly correlated with clinical prognosis in pancreatic cancer remains unclear. We aimed to determine the value of HIF-1α as a predictor of survival in pancreatic cancer through a meta-analysis of available cohort studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a literature search of the MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases to identify cohort studies on the prognostic value of HIF-1α in pancreatic cancer. We conducted a meta-analysis to examine the clinical status and overall survival of patients with high HIF-1α expression compared to those with low expression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We analyzed eight studies involving 557 patients. HIF-1α was associated with higher rate of lymph node metastasis (odd ratio [OR] = 3.16; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.95-5.11; p < 0.05) and advanced tumor stage (OR = 3.66; 95% CI = 2.01-6.69; p < 0.05), while no significant difference was detected for tumor diameter (OR = 1.58; 95% CI = 0.46-5.47; p > 0.05). Notably, HIF-1α overexpression was significantly correlated with poor overall survival (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.88; 95% CI = 1.39-2.56; p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We believe that HIF-1α overexpression is significantly associated with poor prognosis in pancreatic cancer, and may serve as an important parameter for evaluating the biological behavior and prognosis of pancreatic cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou 310009, China.
authors.forename: Long-Yun
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou 310009, China.
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou 310009, China.
authors.forename: Xue-Li
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou 310009, China.
authors.forename: Prasoon
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pankaj
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou 310009, China.
authors.forename: Qi-Da
authors.initials: QD
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou 310009, China. Electronic address: liangtingbo@zju.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Ting-Bo
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Liang
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism*; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D015233:Models, Statistical; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit
keywords: Clinicopathologic variables; Hazard ratio; Hypoxia-inducible factor 1α; Meta-analysis; Overall survival; Pancreatic cancer