Open AccessMolecular aspects of tumour hypoxia
Author(s) -
Rademakers Saskia E.,
Span Paul N.,
Kaanders Johannes H.A.M.,
Sweep Fred C.G.J.,
van der Kogel Albert J.,
Bussink Johan
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
molecular oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.332
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1878-0261
pISSN - 1574-7891
DOI - 10.1016/j.molonc.2008.03.006
Subject(s) - hypoxia (environmental) , biology , cancer research , medicine , bioinformatics , chemistry , organic chemistry , oxygen
Hypoxia is an important feature of the microenvironment of a wide range of solid tumours. Its critical role in radio‐ and chemoresistance and its significance as an adverse prognostic factor have been well established over the last decades. On a cellular level, hypoxia evokes a complex molecular response with a central role for the HIF‐1 pathway. The cellular processes under control of HIF‐1 contain important prognostic information and comprise potential candidates for directing hypoxia‐modifying therapies. This review will provide an overview of the current knowledge on the molecular aspects of tumour hypoxia and the link to clinical practice.