HIF-1α Levels in patients receiving chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced non-small cell lung carcinoma

Abstract

SUMMARY AIM To examine the relationship between treatment response and hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) levels in patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who received chemoradiotherapy (CRT). METHODS Eighty patients with NSCLC were included in the study and treated at Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University Medical Faculty. HIF-1 α levels were measured before and after CRT by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. RESULTS Patients’ stages were as follows; stage IIIA (65%) and stage IIIB (35%). Squamous histology was 45%, adenocarcinoma was 44%, and others were 11%. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy were given concurrently to 80 patients. Forty-five (56%) patients received cisplatin-based chemotherapy, and 35 (44%) received carboplatin-based chemotherapy. Serum HIF-1α levels (42.90 ± 10.55 pg/mL) after CRT were significantly lower than the pretreatment levels (63.10 ± 10.22 pg/mL, p<0.001) in patients with locally advanced NSCLC. CONCLUSION The results of this study revealed that serum HIF-1α levels decreased after CRT. Decrease of HIF-1α levels after the initiation of CRT may be useful for predicting the efficacy of CRT.

Hypoxia in Lung Cancer Management: A Translational Approach

“…Validation was then obtained in larger NSCLC cohorts, especially focused on OPN plasma levels [ 142 , 143 , 179 ]. HIF-1α serum levels in 80 patients harbouring NSCLC and undergoing chemoradiotherapy in a curative intent were assessed [ 137 ]: soluble HIF-1α levels were decreased during and after treatment compared to the initial point, suggesting serum HIF-1α concentrations as a potential marker to monitor tumour response during chemoradiation. Other soluble hypoxia-related biomarkers were assessed in patient serum with NSCLC including VEGF and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF): similar results were reported with poorer survival rates among patients with high serum concentrations of circulating VEGF and bFGF [ 147 ].…”

“…Additionally, hypoxia-related markers were monitored during the course of chemoradiation. A decrease in HIF-1α serum level was observed in concurrence with tumour reduction and potentially predicted treatment response ( p < 0.001) [ 137 ]. [ 18 F]-FAZA PET features at baseline were compared two and four weeks after treatment initiation and acquisition at the second week was proposed as the most relevant feature in the clinical management of NSCLC based on hypoxic parameters [ 237 ].…”