The significance of HIF-1α expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Objective:To investigate the expression of HIF-1α and the relation with clinicopathological features of esophageal squamous cancer.Methods:HIF-1α was examined in esophageal squamous cancer tissue and normal squamous epithelium tissue with real-time quantitive PCR for gene expression and immunohistochemistry for protein expression.The relations between the expression of HIF-1α and the depth of tumor invasion,histological grade,lymphatic invasion and lymph node metastasis were evaluated.Results:In esophageal squamous cancer tissue the expression of HIF-1α mRNA was higher than in normal squamous epithelium tissue(P=0.014).HIF-1α protein positive rate was 50% in esophageal squamous cancer tissue,while it was14% in normal esophageal tissue.The expression of HIF-1α mRNA in esophageal squamous cancer tissue tended to correlated with lymph node metastasis(P=0.063).HIF-1α immunoreactivity was localized in the nucleus and/or cytoplasm of cancer cells.The expression of HIF-1α protein correlated with lymph node metastasis,histological grade(P=0.013 and P=0.028,respectively).Conclusion:HIF-1α may be regulated at transcription and post-transcription level besides protein level.It also plays important role in lymphatic metastasis of esophageal squamous cancer and tumor malignancy degree.So HIF-1α may serve as predictors of progression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and potential targets for anti-angiogenesis therapy of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.