Expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α gene affects the outcome in patients with ovarian cancer

R. Shimogai, J. Kigawa, H. Itamochi, T. Iba, Y. Kanamori, T. Oishi, M. Shimada, S. Sato, W. Kawaguchi, S. Sato, N. Terakawa

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39 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We conducted study to determine whether and how the expression of the hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) gene relates to outcome in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer. A total of 66 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer, who underwent primary surgery followed by platinum-based chemotherapy, were entered into this study. We confirmed the expression of HIF-1α and the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) by immunohistochemistry. To determine the quantity of HIF-1α and VEGF expression, messenger RNA of each gene was measured by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The cutoff values were determined by the receiver-operating characteristic curve according to survival. The protein expressions of HIF-1α and VEGF were strongly observed in the cancer cells. The cutoff value of HIF-1α and VEGF gene expression was 6.0 and 3.0, respectively. The expression of HIF-1α did not relate to clinical stage, but tumor with low VEGF expression was observed more frequently in stage I patients. The response rate to chemotherapy did not differ between high and low expression of both genes. The overall survival for patients with high expression of HIF-1α was significantly lower, but disease-free survival did not differ between high and low expression of HIF-1α, whereas both overall and disease-free survival for patients with high expression of VEGF were significantly lower. Multivariate analysis revealed that FIGO stage and HIF-1α expression were independent prognostic factors but that VEGF was not. The present study suggested that the expression level of HIF-1α could be an independent prognostic factor in epithelial ovarian cancer.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)499-505
Number of pages7
JournalInternational Journal of Gynecological Cancer
Volume18
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2008 May
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • HIF-1α
  • Ovarian cancer
  • Prognosis
  • VEGF

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Obstetrics and Gynaecology

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