Expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha and glucose transporter 1 and its significance in human breast carcinoma

Abstract

Objective To investigate the expression of hypoxia-inducible 1 alpha(HIF-lα)and glucose transporter 1(Glut1)in human breast cancer and its relationship to proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)protein and clinical pathologic factors.Methods Immunohistochemical staining was used to measure the expression of HIF-lα.Glut1 and PCNA in human breast fibroadenoma,usual hyperplasia and breast carcinoma.Results HIF-1α expression was not found in breast fibroadenoma and hyperplastic Iesions.In contrast.the positive rate of HIF-1α was found in the ductal carcinoma in situ 55%(DCIS,11/20)and the invasive breast carcinoma 85%(51/60).Glut1 positivity in breast carcinoma was 58.8%(47/80).The totsl positive rate of PCNA in breast carcinoma was 75%(60/80),that in DCIS was 65%(13/20)and that in invasive carcinoma was 78.3%(47/60).There was a positive correlation between HIF-lα and Glut 1 level (r=0.653,P＜0.01),a positive correlation between HIF-1α and PCNA level(r=0.693,P＜0.01);and also a positive correlation between Glutl and PCNA level(t=0.742.P＜0.01).conclusion The overexpression of HIF-lα and its target gene Glut1 played important roles in carcinogenesis and progression of breast carcinoma and closely correlated with cell proliferation of breast carcinoma and may become a new target for treatment of breast carcinoma. Key words: Breast neoplasms; Hypoxia-inducible factor 1,alpha subuolit; Nueleocytoplasmic transport proteins; Cell proliferation