Hypoxia: Intriguing Feature in Cancer Cell Biology

• Published in: ChemMedChem Vol. 19; no. 9; p. e202300551
• Main Authors: Chowdhury, Monalisa, Das, Prasanta Kumar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 02.05.2024
• Subjects: Aggressive behaviour; Angiogenesis; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents - chemistry; Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology; Cancer; Cancer therapies; Cell growth; Cell Hypoxia; Cell proliferation; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Cell survival; Chemotherapy; Cytology; Defence mechanisms; Heterogeneity; Humans; Hypoxia; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit - antagonists & inhibitors; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit - metabolism; Immune response; Medical prognosis; Metabolism; Metastases; Neoplasms; Neoplasms - drug therapy; Neoplasms - pathology; Oxygen; Oxygen consumption; Radiation therapy; Therapeutic targets; Tumor cells; Tumor Microenvironment; Tumors; Hypoxia assisted drug; Hypoxia; Nanomaterials; HIF-1α; Cancer
• ISSN: 1860-7179; 1860-7187
• DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202300551

Hypoxia, a key aspect of the tumor microenvironment, plays a vital role in cell proliferation, angiogenesis, metabolism, and the immune response within tumors. These factors collectively promote tumor advancement, aggressiveness, metastasis and result in a poor prognosis. Hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α), activated under low oxygen conditions, mediates many of these effects by altering drug target expression, metabolic regulation, and oxygen consumption. These changes promote cancer cell growth and survival. Hypoxic tumor cells develop aggressive traits and resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, leading to increased mortality. Targeting hypoxic tumor offers a potential solution to overcome the challenges posed by tumor heterogeneity and can be used in designing diagnostic and therapeutic nanocarriers for various solid cancers. This concept provides an overview of the intricate relationship between hypoxia and the tumor microenvironment, highlighting its potential as a promising tool for cancer therapies. The article explores the development of hypoxia in cancer cells and its role in cancer progression, along with the latest advancements in hypoxia-triggered cancer treatment.