Abstract
Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) transactivates genes the products of which mediate tumor angiogenesis and glycolytic metabolism. Overexpression of the HIF-1α subunit, resulting from intratumoral hypoxia and genetic alterations, has been demonstrated in common human cancers and is correlated with tumor angiogenesis and patient mortality. Here we demonstrate that hypoxia or HIF-1α overexpression stimulates Matrigel invasion by HCT116 human colon carcinoma cells, whereas this process is inhibited by a small interfering RNA directed against HIF-1α. We show that HIF-1 regulates the expression of genes encoding cathepsin D; matrix metalloproteinase 2; urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR); fibronectin 1; keratins 14, 18, and 19; vimentin; transforming growth factor α; and autocrine motility factor, which are proteins that play established roles in the pathophysiology of invasion. Neutralizing antibodies against uPAR block tumor cell invasion induced by hypoxia or HIF-1α overexpression. These results provide a molecular basis for promotion of the invasive cancer phenotype by hypoxia and/or HIF-1α overexpression.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1138-1143 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Cancer Research |
Volume | 63 |
Issue number | 5 |
State | Published - Mar 1 2003 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Oncology
- Cancer Research