Stromal Expression of Hypoxia Regulated Proteins Is an Adverse Prognostic Factor in Colorectal Carcinomas

Background: Hypoxia modifies the phenotype of tumors in a way that promotes tumor aggressiveness and resistance towards chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However, the expression and influence of hypoxia-regulated proteins on tumor biology are not well characterized in colorectal tumors. We studied the...

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Main Authors: Arjen H. G. Cleven, Manon van Engeland, Bradly G. Wouters, Adriaan P. de Bruïne
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2007-01-01
Series:Cellular Oncology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2007/945802
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author Arjen H. G. Cleven
Manon van Engeland
Bradly G. Wouters
Adriaan P. de Bruïne
author_facet Arjen H. G. Cleven
Manon van Engeland
Bradly G. Wouters
Adriaan P. de Bruïne
author_sort Arjen H. G. Cleven
collection DOAJ
description Background: Hypoxia modifies the phenotype of tumors in a way that promotes tumor aggressiveness and resistance towards chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However, the expression and influence of hypoxia-regulated proteins on tumor biology are not well characterized in colorectal tumors. We studied the role of protein expression of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α, HIF-2α, carbonic anhydrase 9 (CA9) and glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) in patients with colorectal adenocarcinomas. Methods: Expression of HIF-1α, HIF-2α, CA9 and GLUT1 was quantified by immunohistochemistry in 133 colorectal adenocarcinomas. The expression of hypoxia markers was correlated with clinicopathological variables and overall patient survival. Results: Expression of these hypoxia markers was detected in the epithelial compartment of the tumor cells as well as in tumor-associated stromal cells. Although tumor cells frequently showed expression of one or more of the investigated hypoxia markers, no correlation among these markers or with clinical response was found. However, within the tumor stroma, positive correlations between the hypoxia markers HIF-2α, CA9 and GLUT1 were observed. Furthermore expression of HIF-2α and CA9 in tumor-associated stroma were both associated with a significantly reduced overall survival. In the Cox proportional hazard model, stromal HIF-2α expression was an independent prognostic factor for survival. Conclusion: These observations show, that expression of hypoxia regulated proteins in tumor-associated stromal cells, as opposed to their expression in epithelial tumor cells, is associated with poor outcome in colorectal cancer. This study suggests that tumor hypoxia may influence tumor-associated stromal cells in a way that ultimately contributes to patient prognosis.
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spelling doaj-art-35b5ba95878549c0b894871f7300a92e2025-02-03T06:07:53ZengWileyCellular Oncology1570-58701875-86062007-01-0129322924010.1155/2007/945802Stromal Expression of Hypoxia Regulated Proteins Is an Adverse Prognostic Factor in Colorectal CarcinomasArjen H. G. Cleven0Manon van Engeland1Bradly G. Wouters2Adriaan P. de Bruïne3Departments of Pathology, GROW Research Institute, University Hospital Maastricht, PO Box 5800, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The NetherlandsDepartments of Pathology, GROW Research Institute, University Hospital Maastricht, PO Box 5800, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The NetherlandsMaastricht Radiation Oncology (Maastro) Lab, GROW Research Institute, University Hospital Maastricht, PO Box 5800, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The NetherlandsDepartments of Pathology, GROW Research Institute, University Hospital Maastricht, PO Box 5800, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The NetherlandsBackground: Hypoxia modifies the phenotype of tumors in a way that promotes tumor aggressiveness and resistance towards chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However, the expression and influence of hypoxia-regulated proteins on tumor biology are not well characterized in colorectal tumors. We studied the role of protein expression of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α, HIF-2α, carbonic anhydrase 9 (CA9) and glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) in patients with colorectal adenocarcinomas. Methods: Expression of HIF-1α, HIF-2α, CA9 and GLUT1 was quantified by immunohistochemistry in 133 colorectal adenocarcinomas. The expression of hypoxia markers was correlated with clinicopathological variables and overall patient survival. Results: Expression of these hypoxia markers was detected in the epithelial compartment of the tumor cells as well as in tumor-associated stromal cells. Although tumor cells frequently showed expression of one or more of the investigated hypoxia markers, no correlation among these markers or with clinical response was found. However, within the tumor stroma, positive correlations between the hypoxia markers HIF-2α, CA9 and GLUT1 were observed. Furthermore expression of HIF-2α and CA9 in tumor-associated stroma were both associated with a significantly reduced overall survival. In the Cox proportional hazard model, stromal HIF-2α expression was an independent prognostic factor for survival. Conclusion: These observations show, that expression of hypoxia regulated proteins in tumor-associated stromal cells, as opposed to their expression in epithelial tumor cells, is associated with poor outcome in colorectal cancer. This study suggests that tumor hypoxia may influence tumor-associated stromal cells in a way that ultimately contributes to patient prognosis.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2007/945802
spellingShingle Arjen H. G. Cleven
Manon van Engeland
Bradly G. Wouters
Adriaan P. de Bruïne
Stromal Expression of Hypoxia Regulated Proteins Is an Adverse Prognostic Factor in Colorectal Carcinomas
Cellular Oncology
title Stromal Expression of Hypoxia Regulated Proteins Is an Adverse Prognostic Factor in Colorectal Carcinomas
title_full Stromal Expression of Hypoxia Regulated Proteins Is an Adverse Prognostic Factor in Colorectal Carcinomas
title_fullStr Stromal Expression of Hypoxia Regulated Proteins Is an Adverse Prognostic Factor in Colorectal Carcinomas
title_full_unstemmed Stromal Expression of Hypoxia Regulated Proteins Is an Adverse Prognostic Factor in Colorectal Carcinomas
title_short Stromal Expression of Hypoxia Regulated Proteins Is an Adverse Prognostic Factor in Colorectal Carcinomas
title_sort stromal expression of hypoxia regulated proteins is an adverse prognostic factor in colorectal carcinomas
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2007/945802
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