Prognostic value of HIF-1[alpha] expression during fractionated irradiation

Hypoxia and reoxygenation are important determinants of outcome after radiotherapy. HIF-1α is a key molecule involved in cellular response to hypoxia. HIF-1α expression levels have been shown to change after irradiation. The objective of the present study was to explore the prognostic value of HIF-1α expression during fractionated irradiation. Six human squamous cell carcinoma models xenografted in nude mice were analysed. Tumours were excised after 3, 5 and 10 fractions. HIF-1α expression was quantified by western blot. For comparative analysis, previously published data on local tumour control data and pimonidazole hypoxic fraction was used. HIF-1α expression in untreated tumours exhibited intertumoural heterogeneity and did not correlate with pimonidazole hypoxic fraction. During fractionated irradiation the majority of tumour models exhibited a decrease in HIF-1α expression, whereas in UT-SCC-5 no change was observed. Neither kinetics nor expression levels during fractionated irradiation correlated with local tumour control. Our data do not support the use of HIF-1α determined during treatment as a biomarker to predict outcome after fractionated irradiation.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]