Hypoxia-inducible factor-1,a novel target for cancer cell apoptosis and angiogenesis

OBJECTIVE: To review the relationship between hypoxia-inducible factor-1(HIF-1) and apoptosis,angiogenesis of cancer cells.METHODS: Using hypoxia-inducible factor-1,apoptosis and angiogenesis as the ,the full-text data bases such as Chongqingweipu,Elsevier and PubMed central between 2004 and 2007 were searched.One hundred and forty-three related articles were got together.After excluding the articles that have the similar studies,48 articles were analyzed.RESULTS: HIF-1 plays an important role in tumorigenesis and tumor development.Through modulating transcription activity of different target genes,it can promote as well as resist cell apoptosis.Meanwhile,it has biological and clinical values.Its overexpression has relationship with up-regulation of VEGF,angiogenesis and poor prognosis of cancers.CONCLUSION: Owing to the intimate relationship between HIF-1α and apoptosis,angiogenesis of cancer cells,HIF-1 will be a novel target for cancer drug therapy.