HIF-1 is the commander of gateways to cancer

Abstract

The hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is primarily involved in the sensing and adapting of cells to changes in the O2 level, which is essential for their viability. An increased activity is recognized in the majority of clinical relevant hypoxic/ischemic episodes and human cancers.HIF-1 is considered a central regulator of the adaptation response of cancer cells to hypoxia that makes it a therapeutic target in solid tumors. In this article, the biochemical pathways that are regulated by HIF-1 and the factors that regulate HIF-1 expression are briefly discussed.as targeting HIF-1, may selectively kill tumor cells that adapt to low O2 concentrations. © 2011 Nagy MA.