Expert Reviews in Molecular Medicine

 


Review Article

Targeting the molecular basis for tumour hypoxia

Veronica A. Carroll a1 and Margaret Ashcroft a1c1
a1 Cell Growth Regulation and Angiogenesis Laboratory, Cancer Research UK Centre for Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, Surrey, SM2 5NG, UK.

Abstract

Tumour hypoxia stems from impaired oxygen delivery as a result of a disorganised tumour vasculature and inadequate blood supply. Hypoxic tumours are highly resistant to chemotherapy and radiation therapy and correlate with a poor patient prognosis. Hypoxia is a powerful stimulus for the expression of genes involved in cell survival and angiogenesis. A key factor in this process is hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF), which regulates transcription of hypoxia-activated genes. Efforts are currently under way to develop targeted cancer therapeutics to hypoxia-activated pathways, and in particular to the transcription factor HIF.


Key Words: Tumour hypoxia; HIF; targeted cancer therapeutics; angiogenesis.

Correspondence:
c1 Cell Growth Regulation and Angiogenesis Laboratory, Cancer Research UK Centre for Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, Surrey, SM2 5NG, UK. Tel: +44 (0) 208 722 4035; Fax: +44 (0) 208 722 4205; E-mail: margaret.ashcroft@icr.ac.uk