Hypoxia and its biological implications for cancer therapy

Abstract

Cancer is one of the leading public health issues with poor prognosis, high mortality rate, and limited effective treatment strategies. Hypoxia, a common characteristic feature of solid tumors, is caused by structural and functional modifications in microvasculature. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is the principal regulator of physiological adaptations to hypoxia that activates the expression of battery of target genes, leading to the development of cancer, stromal angiogenesis, metastasis, and drug resistance by targeting MMPs. VEGF. LOX. and STAT3. It also stimulates complex cancer signaling networks, including PI3K and MAPK pathways. We have discussed how hypoxia regulates progression of various cancers, including breast, ovarian, cervical, and prostate, and their metastasis, angiogenesis, and drug resistance for better understanding of the implications of hypoxia in cancer therapy. � The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2023.