Hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha and carbonic anhydrase IX overexpression are associated with poor survival in breast cancer patients

Hypoxia is common in many solid tumors such as breast, head-neck, and soft tissue malignancies. Hypoxia causes overexpression of hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) and carbonic anhydrase IX (CA IX) which are associated with unfavorable prognosis in breast cancer. In our study, we evaluated HIF-1α and CA IX expression in patients with breast cancer.Between June 1996 and June 2008, 111 women with breast cancer were evaluated. Estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) status and Her2/ neu expression were evaluated by immunohistochemical methods. Her-2/neu expression was also assessed by FISH method when needed. Two groups were created: ER and PR positive, Her-2/neu negative (group 1, n=56); and ER and PR negative, Her-2/neu positive (group 2, n=55). HIF-1α and CA IX expressions were investigated in both groups and results were compared. In addition, we investigated the association between HIF-1α and CA IX expressions with stage, grade, lymph node metastasis, tumor size, menopause status and survival.Median patient age in group 1 was 52 years (range 34-77), and in group 2 47 years (range 27-83). HIF-1α expression was detected in 26 (46.4%) of group 1 and in 46 (83.6%) of group 2 patients (p=0.0001). CA IX expression was detected in 25 (46.4%) of group 1 and in 37 (67.3%) of group 2 patients (p7equals;0.0137rpar;. In group 1, median disease free survival (DFS) was 97 months and in group 2 46 months (p=0.0308). In group 1, median overall survival (OS) was 108 months and in group 2 75 months (p=0.0339).HIF-1α and CA IX overexpressions are observed more often in ER and PR negative, Her-2/neu positive breast cancer and are associated with poor survival.