HIF-1α is a negative prognostic indicator associated with poor survival benefits of HCC patients

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: To explore the survival benefits of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) inpatients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: We enrolled 136 patients who performed liver resection.Liver tissue were collected to analyze the expression of HIF-1α and others with immunohistochemistry (IHC). Mean integral optical density (MIOD) of tissue IHC was used to measure the expression level of different differentiated tumors. Survival rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and evaluated with the log-rank test. Cox proportional model was used to analyze the independent risk factors affecting the survival time. Results: HIF-1α, VEGF, GLUT1, LDHA, p-Akt and p-mTOR were highly expressed in poorly differentiated HCC and carcinoma tissue. HIF-1α was positive associated with VEGF, GLUT1, LDHA, p-Akt and p-mTOR, respectively. Meanwhile, high-middle differentiated HCC patients suggested a well survival benefits over that low differentiated HCC patients. Cox regression analysis indicated that tumor differentiation, HIF-1α and Ki-67 were the prognostic independent risk factors. Conclusion: HIF-1α is an independent risk factor for prognosis of HCC.Low differentiated HCC with high HIF-1α expression and high Ki-67displayed a poor prognostic survival.

Key words: Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α, Hepatocellular carcinoma, Warburg effect, Glucose metabolism, Prognosis

Zhou Lin, Wang Jing, Zhao Yang, Li Han, Du Guosheng, Shi Xianjie, He Qiang, Lang Ren. HIF-1α is a negative prognostic indicator associated with poor survival benefits of HCC patients[J]. Electronic Journal of Liver Tumor, 2021, 8(3): 17-25.

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