Role of hypoxia inducible factor 1α as a potential target in cancer therapy

Abstract

Our cells response to low oxygen tension (hypoxia) by transcriptional induction of a series of genes, this induction is mediated by hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs), which are family of transcription factors consist of one of three α subunits (HIF-1α, HIF-2α, HIF-3α) and β subunit (HIF-1β). HIF-1α expression is induced by hypoxia, it was found that it is a master regulator of angiogenesis and plays a critical role in glucose metabolic pathways which provide physiologic adaptation and cell survival during hypoxic conditions. Clinical investigations have been shown a correlation between overexpression of HIF-1 and aggressive cancer progression, which may be expected considering the fact that cancer cells are known to be hypoxic. Thus, targeting HIF-1 could represent a novel approach to cancer therapy, as it allows for survival and proliferation of cancerous cells due to its angiogenic and metabolic properties