Immunohistochemical expression of hypoxia inducible factor in breast cancer

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study is to evaluate the expression of hypoxia inducible factor of l alpha [HIF - l alpha] in breast carcinoma and its relation to various pathological prognostic indicators of breast carcinoma. We examined, by immunohistochemical analysis, the expression of HIF-l alpha in 66 cases of invasive breast carcinoma and 10 cases of non-carcinoatous breast lesions as a control group [5 fibroadenomas and 5 cases of fibrocystic disease]. In invasive breast carcinoma, we correlate the expression of HIF- l alpha with tumor size, histological grade of carcinoma, angiolymphatic embolization, lymph node status and the level of hormonal receptors expression. HIF-l alpha was detected in tumor cell nuclei of 50/66 [75%] of our cases while the control group was negative. Positive correlation was present between HIF-l alpha expression and higher histological grade, larger tumor size, positive angiolymphatic embolization, lymph node positivity and hormonal receptor negativity. These findings suggest that HIF-l alpha may be closely linked to an aggressive phenotype in breast cancer