Hypoxia, angiogenesis and apoptosis markers in locally advanced rectal cancer

• Published in: International journal of colorectal disease Vol. 21; no. 3; pp. 248 - 257
• Main Authors: THEODOROPOULOS, George E, LAZARIS, Andreas C, THEODOROPOULOS, Vasilios E, PAPATHEODOSIOU, Kalliopi, GAZOULI, Maria, BRAMIS, John, PATSOURIS, Efstratios, PANOUSSOPOULOS, Dimitrios
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer 01.04.2006; Berlin Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aged; Apoptosis; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers, Tumor - analysis; Female; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Humans; Hypoxia; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Medical sciences; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Neoplasm Metastasis; Neoplasm Staging; Neovascularization, Pathologic; Rectal Neoplasms - blood supply; Rectal Neoplasms - pathology; Rectal Neoplasms - physiopathology; Rectal Neoplasms - surgery; Recurrence; Retrospective Studies; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus; Tumors; Immunohistichemistry; Vascular endothelial factor; Oxygen; Rectal disease; Rectal cancer; Apoptotic index; Hypoxia- inducible factor; Angiogenesis; HIF-1; Gastroenterology; Digestive diseases; Intestinal disease; Hypoxia; Microvessel density; Anorectal disease; Apoptosis
• ISSN: 0179-1958; 1432-1262
• DOI: 10.1007/s00384-005-0788-4

Hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha (HIF-1alpha) is a critical regulatory protein of cellular response to hypoxia. HIF-1alpha triggers the angiogenic process through activation of the vascular endothelial factor (VEGF) gene. The bcl-2 anti-apoptotic and the death promoting p53 genes, regulate the apoptotic cell death. We investigated the relationship between hypoxia, angiogenesis and apoptosis and their prognostic impact in patients with advanced rectal cancer. The immunohistochemical expression of HIF-1alpha, VEGF, p53 and bcl-2 and the determination of microvessel density (MVD), apoptotic index (AI) were carried out in tumour tissue samples obtained from 92 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) (T3,4/N+/-). HIF-1alpha high reactivity and VEGF overexpression were noted in 47.8 and 44.6% of the examined cases, respectively. They significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis (P<0.001) and low rectal location (P=0.016). HIF-1alpha expression was directly correlated with VEGF up-regulation (P<0.001) and MVD (P<0.001). VEGF expression was closely interrelated with MVD (P<0.001). In univariate analysis advanced grade, infiltrative pattern of tumour growth, vascular invasion, positive lymph node status, HIF-1alpha expression and VEGF upregulation were related to decreased disease-free and overall survival. In multivariate analysis, only high HIF-1alpha reactivity and positive lymph node status emerged as independent variables of adverse prognostic significance. HIF-1alpha and VEGF may play an important predictive and prognostic role in patients with LARC.