Differential regulation and prognostic significance of endogenous hypoxic markers in endometrial carcinomas

Tumor hypoxia is associated with malignant progression and treatment resistance. Hypoxia-related factors (HRFs), such as hypoxiainducible factor 1α (HIF-1α), carbonic anhydrase IX (CA IX), and glucose transporter-1 (GLUT-1) permit tumor cell adaptation to hypoxia. The authors attempted to elucidate the correlation of these markers with variable clinicopathological factors and overall prognosis. Immunohistochemistry for HIF-1α, CA IX, and GLUT-1 was performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues from 140 cases of endometrial carcinomas. Expression of HIF-1α, CA IX, and GLUT-1 was shown in 33.6% (47 cases), 47.9% (67 cases), and in 67.1% (94 cases) HIF-1α and GLUT-1 expression was significantly associated with myometrial invasion. CA IX expression was associated with histologic grade and tumor stage, as well as myometrial invasion. HIF-1α expression was associated with a shorter OS. The present study suggests that expression of these hypoxia-related factors tends to be associated with poor prognosis, and HIF-1α expression is an independent unfavorable prognostic factor in endometrial carcinomas.

Endometrial carcinoma; Hypoxia; HIF-1α; CA IX; GLUT-1.

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