Expression of HIF-1α in endometrial cancer and its relations to ERα

Objective To explore the expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α)and its relations with histopathologic parameters,prognosis and ERα expression in endometrial adenocarcinoma HIF-1α.Methods Expression of HIF-1α and ERα proteins was determined immunohistochemically in 56 patients with endometrial adenocarcinoma,20 patients with normal endometria and 18 patients with atypia hyperplasia.Results The positive expression rates of HIF-1α in endometrial cancer,atypia hyperplasia and normal endometria were 60.7%,27.8% and 45.0% respectively,while positive expression rates of ERα were 60.7%,77.7% and 100% respectively.HIF-1α overexpression had no significant correlation with histopathological parameters,but the survival rate in positive HIF-1α patients was lower than that in negative(P0.05).HIF-1α expression positively correlated with ERα(r=0.265,P0.05).Conclusion The up-regulation of HIF-1α is a common event in endometrial adenocarcinomas,and is related to a poor prognosis.The expression of HIF-1α in normal endometria suggests HIF-1α plays an important role in endometrial physiology.The correlation of HIF-1α and ERα protein expression provides a new clue for the mechanism and treatment of ERα in endometrial adenocarcinomas.