Expression of Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1α in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma and its correlation with clinicopathological parameters

  • Manisha Sharma Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research
  • Menka Khanna
  • Manas Madan
  • Mridu Manjari
  • Taranveer Singh
  • Komalpreet Kaur
Keywords: esophageal carcinoma, immunohistochemistry, HIF-1α, chemoradiotherapy

Abstract

Background: Esophageal cancer is an aggressive tumour carrying a very poor prognosis. HIF-1α (Hypoxia induced factor) is an oxygen sensitive transcription factor which activates transcription of proangiogenic cytokines like VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) responsible for angiogenesis. In the present study we examined the HIF-1α expression in esophageal carcinoma cases and its correlation with various clinicopathological parameters. We also determined the clinical outcomes in such patients with chemoradiotherapy.Methods: The study was conducted on 50 cases of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinomas diagnosed in SGRDIMSAR, Amritsar. Detailed clinical data of the patient was recorded as per proforma attached. Tissue were formalin fixed, paraffin embedded and were studied for histopathological grading after staining with haematoxylin-eosin. All cases were subjected to immunohistochemistry for HIF-1α expression.Results: The maximum incidence was seen in age group of 41-60 years. Most of the cases were moderately differentiated 34 cases (68%) followed by poorly differentiated and well differentiated consisting of 20% and 12% respectively. The HIF-1α positivity was observed in 34 cases. 16/34 cases were classified as high score group. High HIF-1α expression significantly correlated with poor degree of differentiation(P=0.005), with the lymph node metastasis(P=0.015), lymhpatics invasion(P=0.018) and depth of invasion. Out of 20 patients resistant to therapy, 12 showed high HIF-1α score.Conclusion: The present study concluded that expression of HIF-1α was significantly correlated with poorer clinicopathological variables including higher grade, lymph node metastasis, lymphatics invasion and increased depth of tumour invasion. It was also determined that HIF-1α expression significantly correlates with an unfavourable prognosis in such patients treated with adjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

Author Biography

Manisha Sharma, Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research
Associate Professor, Department of Pathology

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Published
2016-12-13
Section
Original Article

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