REVIEW article

Front. Immunol., 10 May 2024

Sec. Cancer Immunity and Immunotherapy

Volume 15 - 2024 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2024.1370800

Hypoxia-inducible factor in breast cancer: role and target for breast cancer treatment

  • Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China

Abstract

Globally, breast cancer stands as the most prevalent form of cancer among women. The tumor microenvironment of breast cancer often exhibits hypoxia. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha, a transcription factor, is found to be overexpressed and activated in breast cancer, playing a pivotal role in the anoxic microenvironment by mediating a series of reactions. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha is involved in regulating downstream pathways and target genes, which are crucial in hypoxic conditions, including glycolysis, angiogenesis, and metastasis. These processes significantly contribute to breast cancer progression by managing cancer-related activities linked to tumor invasion, metastasis, immune evasion, and drug resistance, resulting in poor prognosis for patients. Consequently, there is a significant interest in Hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha as a potential target for cancer therapy. Presently, research on drugs targeting Hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha is predominantly in the preclinical phase, highlighting the need for an in-depth understanding of HIF-1α and its regulatory pathway. It is anticipated that the future will see the introduction of effective HIF-1α inhibitors into clinical trials, offering new hope for breast cancer patients. Therefore, this review focuses on the structure and function of HIF-1α, its role in advancing breast cancer, and strategies to combat HIF-1α-dependent drug resistance, underlining its therapeutic potential.

Schematic overview of HIF-1a regulation in breast cancer. Under normoxic conditions, HIF-1α is unstable with a brief half-life. In hypoxic conditions, the depletion of molecular oxygen during mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation curtails the catalytic functions of PHD and FIH, limiting HIF-1α hydroxylation and degradation, thereby activating the HIF pathway. Subsequently, HIF-1α is involved in angiogenesis, glucose metabolism, cancer cell invasion and metastasis, and immune escape by regulating the expression of target genes.

1 Introduction

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common type of malignancy among women and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women after lung cancer (). The treatment of breast cancer mainly includes surgery, endocrine therapy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and targeted therapy, depending on the classification of the tumor, with drug therapy playing an important role. In earlier years, the mortality rate of breast cancer patients has declined due to the reduced risk of the disease, improved treatment methods, and the widespread use of early screening (). However, the emergence of drug resistance during treatment in recent years has posed a severe challenge to the survival of breast cancer patients (). Hypoxia, caused by an imbalance between oxygen consumption and supply due to rapid tumor growth, is a common feature of the tumor microenvironment in most solid tumors (, ). It promotes tumor growth, metastasis, and treatment resistance by regulating the expression of hypoxia-related genes, ultimately leading to more aggressive and fatal cancers. Hypoxia is associated with enhanced invasive behavior and poorer prognosis and has been identified as a poor indicator of patient outcome (). The hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) family, which plays a pivotal role in the cellular response to hypoxic stress, consists of transcription factors that are crucial for managing hypoxic stress at the cellular level (, ). Research has consistently demonstrated that Hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α) is overexpressed in numerous types of cancer, significantly influencing cancer progression (). HIF-1α is responsible for activating genes associated with angiogenesis, cell growth and survival, invasion and metastasis, glucose metabolism, immune system evasion, and resistance to several cancer therapies. Specifically, HIF-1α is involved in regulating tumor cell metabolism, apoptosis, and autophagy, thereby impacting their survival (, ). It represents a promising target for anticancer therapy. Therefore, this article provides a detailed description of the structure and function of HIF-1α as well as its mechanism of action in the development of breast cancer. This review also summarizes the reasons for the emergence of HIF-1α-dependent drug resistance and strategies to overcome it, providing systematic information for the development of targeted drugs against HIF-1α.

2 Structure and function of HIF-1α

Hypoxia significantly influences numerous pathophysiological conditions in the human body (). It is a defining characteristic of the solid tumor microenvironment (TME), resulting from rapid tumor growth and inadequate blood supply. An estimated 50%–60% of tumors exhibit anoxic regions (). Hypoxia is linked to cancer spread and resistance to conventional therapies like chemotherapy and radiotherapy, indicating a grim prognosis for various cancers, including BC, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and cancers of the pancreas, stomach, and colorectum (). Therefore, targeting hypoxia is seen as a viable strategy in cancer treatment. Cells have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to adapt to anoxic conditions ().

Within the hypoxic TME, HIF plays a crucial role in tumor adaptation (). To date, mammals have been found to express three HIF types. HIF is a heterodimer consisting of an oxygen-sensitive α subunit (HIF-1α, HIF-2α, and HIF-3α) and an oxygen-insensitive β subunit (HIF-1β), crucial for regulating gene expression under hypoxic conditions (). While oxygen levels regulate all three HIF α subunits and they all bind to HIF-1β, research has primarily focused on HIF-1α and HIF-2α (). HIF-1α and HIF-2α share structural similarities, yet their roles differ across tumor and cell types (, , ). HIF-3α has been less studied due to its multiple variants and complex functionality ( (, ). Recent research indicates that specific HIF-1α subtypes are present in several solid tumors, potentially contributing to tumor progression (, ).

HIF-1 consists of the HIF-1α subunit, composed of 826 amino acids, and the HIF-1β subunit, which has 782 amino acids (Figure 1) (, ). HIF-1α is the most extensively expressed subunit of HIF-1 in mammalian tissues (). This transcription factor, encoded by the HIF-1α gene on chromosome 14q2124, responds to hypoxic signals (, ). It is part of the basic helix–loop–helix (bHLH)/Period Clock Protein (Per)–Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Nuclear Translocator (ARNT)–Single-minded Protein (Sim) (bHLH/PAS) family of transcription factors (). The bHLH and PAS domains, named after the proteins Per, ARNT, and Sim () first identified in Drosophila, are essential for DNA binding and the formation of heterodimers between HIF-1α and HIF-1β, respectively (). HIF-1α includes two transactivation domains (TAD): N-TAD and C-TAD, enriched with acidic and hydrophobic amino acids, linked by an inhibitory domain (ID) (). C-TAD plays a role in HIF-1α transcription regulation through interaction with the transcriptional coactivator CREB-binding protein (CBP)/p300 in hypoxic conditions, while N-TAD serves as its stable regulator (, ). The ID, situated between the two TAD sequences (amino acids 576–785), prevents transcriptional activation by TADs (). Furthermore, HIF-1α features an oxygen-dependent degradation domain (ODDD) upstream of the N-TAD region, including two hydroxylation sites, Pro-402 and Pro-564, each bearing a conserved LXXLAP motif (). This ODDD, located centrally in HIF-1α, chiefly mediates the protein’s oxygen-regulated stability and degradation through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway (, ). HIF-1α also possesses two nuclear localization signals (NLS), NLSN (N-terminal, 17–33 amino acids) and NLSC (C-terminal, 718–721 amino acids) (). HIF-1β, also known as ARNT, is expressed constitutively in all cell types and its expression is not influenced by oxygen levels (). It includes three domains: bHLH, PAS, and C-TAD, but lacks the ODDD and N-TAD domains (, ).

Figure 1

Within cells, the regulation of HIF-1α is stringently dependent on oxygen availability, in contrast to HIF-1β, which is constantly expressed irrespective of oxygen tension (, ). Under normoxic conditions, HIF-1α is unstable with a brief half-life (Figures 1, 2) (). Pro-402 and Pro-564 in the ODDD and Asn-803 in the C-TAD are hydroxylated by prolyl hydroxylases (PHD) and factor-inhibiting HIF (FIH) using Fe2+ and 2-oxoglutaric acid as cofactors (, ). Hydroxylation at Asn-803 inhibits CBP/p300 binding to HIF-1α, while hydroxylation at proline residues allows the von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor protein (pVHL), with E3 ubiquitin ligase activity, to recognize hydroxylated HIF-1α (, ). Consequently, HIF-1α is ubiquitinated and swiftly degraded through the pVHL-mediated ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. The second regulation mechanism involves the hydroxylation of asparaginyl residues by FIH (Figures 1, 2) (), preventing the association of HIF coactivators (CBP/p300) (, ). This asparaginyl hydroxylation occurs in the C-TAD domain at N803 in HIF-1α and N851 in HIF-2α (). Thus, under normoxic conditions, PHD and FIH facilitate HIF degradation through a dual mechanism, suppressing HIF transcriptional activity (). In hypoxic conditions, the depletion of molecular oxygen during mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation curtails the catalytic functions of PHD and FIH (Figure 2) (, ), limiting HIF-1α hydroxylation and degradation, thereby activating the HIF pathway (, ). The stable HIF-1α then moves to the nucleus and forms a transcriptionally active heterodimer with HIF-1β (). The interaction occurs between the heterodimeric complex of HIF-1α/HIF-1β and CBP/p300, the steroid receptor coactivator-1 family of coactivators, the nuclear redox regulator Ref-1, and the molecular chaperone heat shock protein 90. This interaction facilitates the binding of hypoxia response elements (HRE), leading to increased transcriptional activity of target genes across various signaling pathways and the regulation of cellular adaptive responses to hypoxia (Table 1) (, , ). However, the degradation of accumulated HIF-1α happens rapidly upon reoxygenation of hypoxic cells, with the rate of degradation being dependent on the duration of hypoxic stress ().

Figure 2

Table 1

Target GeneExpression under hypoxiaFunctionReference
GLUT1UpGlycolysis()
LDHAUpGlycolysis()
PKM2UpGlycolysis()
LOXUpInvasion()
SOD2UpEnrichment of braest cancer stem cell()
A2BRUpInvasion, and metastasis()
MDR1UpEnrichment of braest cancer stem cell()
VEGFUpAngiogenesis()
Bcl-2UpApoptosis()
GLUTUpGlycolysis()
NANOGUpInvasion()
PDK 1UpGlycolysis()
IL-6UpInvasion()
IL-8UpInvasion()
MMPsUpInvasion()
NF-κB,UpInvasion()
HK2UpGlycolysis()
C1QBPUpAngiogenesis()
P4HA2UpInvasion and metastasis.()
SLUGUpPlays a key role in the control of epithelial to mesenchymal transition()
TWISTUpPlays a key role in the control of epithelial to mesenchymal transition()

Target genes of the HIF-1α and their function.

3 The role of HIF-1α in breast cancer

3.1 Angiogenesis

BC cells necessitate a continual blood supply for oxygen and essential nutrients (). Initially, during tumor growth, nutrients and oxygen are obtained via diffusion (). However, as the tumor mass reaches a certain size, diffusion becomes insufficient to sustain growth, prompting the formation of new vasculature to support tumor growth and metastasis (, ). Thus, angiogenesis is critical for tumor advancement, proliferation, and metastasis. Tumor blood vessels exhibit high tortuosity, increased vascular permeability, and sluggish blood flow ()compared to normal vessels, leading to increased local hypoxia, which in turn stabilizes HIF-1α, fostering tumor invasion and metastasis ()

HIF plays a pivotal role in regulating angiogenesis (Figure 3) (, ). BC cells exhibit elevated levels of HIF, stimulating gene expression that facilitates proliferation, metastasis, angiogenesis, and invasion (, ). HIF-1α is notably expressed in precursor lesions and early stages of BC (). Suppression of the HIF-1α gene or inhibition of its transcription can hinder tumor cells from secreting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and impede tumor neovascularization (, , ).

Figure 3

HIF-1α shows increased expression particularly in triple-negative BC (TNBC). The nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway is activated in TNBC, promoting tumor cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and evasion of apoptosis (Figure 3) (). Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) or interleukin (IL)-1 activates inhibitory kappa B kinase (IKKB), leading to NF-Kb activation (). Additionally, under chronic hypoxia in TNBC cell lines, reactive oxygen species (ROS) further activate NF-κB by degrading inhibitor of κB-α (IκBα) (97). The NF-κB pathway boosts HIF-1α mRNA expression by enhancing its transcription (98, 99). TNF-α may elevate HIF-1α expression by activating NF-κB signaling in TNBC cells and could be influenced by IL-17 (100).

In BC, HIF-1α primarily induces angiogenesis by regulating the expression of VEGF, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM1), and VEGF receptor (VEGFR) (Figure 3) (, 101). VEGF, a critical downstream target of the HIF pathway, drives angiogenesis by influencing endothelial cell migration, proliferation, permeability, and survival (102105). Under hypoxic conditions, HIF-1α binds to the VEGF promoter, significantly increasing VEGF mRNA levels in TNBC compared to other BC subtypes (106). HIF-1α also upregulates breast tumor kinase mRNA and protein expression, which stimulates angiogenesis via hepatocyte growth factor (107). Furthermore, HIF-1α induces overexpression of C1q binding protein (C1QBP), indirectly stimulating the NF-κB signaling cascade to upregulate VCAM1 expression and promote TNBC angiogenesis (). Short-term hyperoxia induces ROS formation, leading to increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression and VEGFR receptor upregulation through HIF-1α, promoting angiogenesis (108).

Although HIF-1α predominates in BC, the HIF-2α isoform is equally crucial as a key regulator of pathophysiological angiogenesis (109). RAB11B-AS1, a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), enhances VEGFA and angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) expression in hypoxic BC cells in a HIF-2α-dependent manner, promoting tumor angiogenesis and metastasis (110). In conclusion, angiogenesis is a multifaceted process, and HIF-1α significantly contributes to angiogenesis in BC (, 111).

3.2 Glucose metabolism

Enhanced glucose metabolism plays a vital role in the growth and division of cancer cells, which require significant amounts of biomass and alternate energy sources to offset the diminished oxidative phosphorylation. The activity of HIF is believed to be intimately associated with glucose metabolism. Genes activated by HIF transcription include crucial components of glucose metabolism, such as glucose transporters (GLUT1 and GLUT3), enzymes involved in the glycolytic pathway (hexokinase, phosphofructokinase, aldolase, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, phosphoglycerate kinase, enolase, pyruvate kinase, and lactate dehydrogenase [LDH]), and pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) kinase (PDK) (Figure 4) (, , 112, 113). Du et al. investigated the potential roles and mechanisms of the hypoxic MIR210HG axis, finding that MIR210HG increases HIF-1α protein levels by directly interacting with the 5’-UTR of HIF1α mRNA. This elevation in HIF-1α protein enhances the expression of enzymes related to glycolysis (pyruvate kinase M2, LDHA) and GLUT1 (114). In hypoxic conditions, HIF-1α facilitates the shift of tumor cells from oxidative to glycolytic metabolism by triggering genes that encode glucose transporters and glycolytic enzymes (115). In particular, the overexpression of HIF-1α in glucose augments glucose absorption in tumor cells through the elevation of glucose transporter levels. The modification of proteins by O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) (O-GlcNAcylation) influences glycolysis in BC cells via the HIF-1α/GLUT1 signaling pathway (, 116). Glucose is processed through the glycolytic pathway in tumor cells, generating substantial amounts of pyruvate (117). Hexokinase 2 (HK2) serves as both the initial and rate-limiting enzyme in the glycolysis pathway (). CircRNF20 is found to accelerate tumor progression by targeting miR-487a/HIF-1α/HK2 in BC (). HIF-1α enhances PDK activity and blocks the transformation of pyruvate to acetyl-CoA by inhibiting PDH; thus, reducing the entry of pyruvate into the tricarboxylic acid cycle (, 118). LDHA converts pyruvate into lactic acid, which is then transported out of the cell by the monocarboxylate transporter (MCT) (). As cancer cell metabolism shifts to aerobic glycolysis, lactate supplants pyruvate and is expelled into the tumor microenvironment (TME), thereby fostering an immunosuppressive milieu that supports tumor cell proliferation, metastasis, and invasion (119, 120).

Figure 4

Glycolysis can lead to an increase in HIF-1α levels, which in turn raises VEGF expression (121). Aerobic glycolysis stimulates angiogenesis by producing lactate, which acidifies the extracellular environment and enhances VEGF expression (122). Additionally, the end products of glycolysis, lactate and pyruvate, influence VEGF expression through the augmentation of HIF-1α levels (123125). Hence, it is postulated that the transition to glycolysis precedes angiogenesis. In summary, HIF-1α plays a crucial role in regulating glucose metabolism in BC.

3.3 Invasion and metastasis

Invasion and metastasis involve the spread of cancer cells from the primary tumor site to distant organs, leading to the formation of secondary tumors (). Early estimates indicate that nearly two-thirds of cancer-related deaths and three-quarters of BC-related deaths result from metastasis (126). EMT, a process in which epithelial cells convert into mesenchymal cells through specific mechanisms, is a key aspect of tumor metastasis (127, 128). Cancer cells that undergo EMT exhibit enhanced invasive capabilities and resistance to apoptosis. Often, EMT is induced by hypoxia, with HIF-1α overexpression linked to various molecules and pathways (Figure 5) (, 129132). Research has shown that hypoxia-induced HIF-1α expression leads to the activation of major transcription factors such as TWIST, Snail, Slug, SIP1, STAT3, and ZEB. This activation results in E-cadherin suppression and vimentin induction in BC, with HIF-1α inhibition markedly increasing E-cadherin levels (133). While E-cadherin encourages collective migration of mixed E/M phenotypes by inhibiting TGF-β, TGF-β activation promotes single-cell migration (134). CSF-1, a regulator of EMT, is influenced by hypoxia. HIF-1α induces a mixed E/M phenotype via its target gene CSF-1, facilitating collective migration (135). Additionally, hypoxia has been shown to increase Slug and Snail expression and decrease E-cadherin levels during HIF1-induced EMT through the Notch pathway (136). HIF-1α activates matrix metalloproteinases 1, 2, 9, and 14, aiding in the breakdown of extracellular matrix components and basement membrane degradation, thereby easing cancer cell migration and spread (, 113, 130, 137, 138). Chemokine receptors 4 (CXCR4) and 3 (CXCR3), associated with invasion, angiogenesis, metastasis, and prognosis, are upregulated by HIF-1-dependent expression, enhancing cell migration and survival during cycling (139, 140). HIF signaling impacts cell extravasation by modulating genes encoding L1 cell adhesion molecules and ANGPTL4, which reduces endothelial cell adhesion (141). He et al. (2020) showed that hypoxia-induced HIF-1α regulates BC cell migration and EMT through the MiR3383p/ZEB2 axis (142). Moon et al. identified MRPL52 as a transcriptional target of HIF-1α, with MRPL52 promoting EMT, migration, and invasion in hypoxic BC cells via the ROS-Notch1-Snail pathway (143).

Figure 5

Recent research indicates that HIF-dependent lncRNAs may contribute to the metastatic phenotype of BC cells. Under hypoxia, lncRNA BCRT1, regulated by HIF-1α transcriptionally, promotes EMT (144). Liu et al. identified HIF-1α as a potential transcription factor for lncRNA HLA complex group 18 (HCG18), with a positive correlation between HCG18 and HIF-1α expression in BC tissue. Knockdown of HIF-1α reduced HCG18 levels in BC cells, and HIF-1α binding to specific HREs in the HCG18 promoter stimulates HCG18 expression. In vivo assays showed that decreasing HCG18 expression in MDA-MB-231 cells curbed tumor growth and lung metastasis in xenograft mouse models, highlighting HIF1α’s role as a critical regulator of hypoxia-induced EMT and metastasis (145). Metastasis poses a significant prognostic challenge in BC, and targeting HIF-1α to inhibit BC metastasis presents a viable strategy.

3.4 Apoptosis and autophagy

Apoptosis, a genetically controlled form of cell death, is crucial for normal cellular regulation. Cancer cells, however, often evade apoptosis, contributing to chemotherapy resistance or tumor relapse. This evasion involves a complex interplay of proteins and cytokines. Research indicates that HIF-1α exhibits a dual role in apoptosis, capable of both inducing and counteracting it (). HIF-1α can induce and antagonize apoptosis (Figure 5). The proapoptotic effects of HIF-1α involve the regulation of genes such as BNIP, Bid, Bax, Bak, Bad, BNIP3, NIX, and NOXA (146), whereas its antiapoptotic effects are seen in the modulation of Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, and myeloid cell leukemia (Mcl-1) expression (). In MDA-MB-231 cells treated with paclitaxel, a HIF-1α-dependent alteration in the expression of various pro- and antiapoptotic genes was observed. Under hypoxic conditions, compared to normoxic conditions with paclitaxel, a reduction in proapoptotic gene expression (BAK1, CASP3, CASP8, CASP10, and TNFRSF10A) was noted (147).

HIFs also play a significant role in autophagy, another programmed cell death mechanism (Figure 5). In MCF7 cells subjected to radiation, HIF-1α induces autophagy by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR/p70 pathway and increases the expression of Mcl-1 and BNIP-3 (148). Mcl-1 participates in the neutralization of proapoptotic proteins, inhibiting cytochrome c release from mitochondria (149), while BNIP-3, a mitochondrial protein in the Bcl-2 family, triggers selective mitophagy by releasing Beclin-1 to initiate autophagy (150, 151). The interplay between autophagy and apoptosis is crucial, especially for inducing cell death in antiapoptotic BC cell lines (152).

3.5 HIF-1α in cancer-associated fibroblasts

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) interact with tumor cells to promote tumor cell growth and metastasis. CAFs, mainly normal interstitial fibroblasts (NFs), are the most abundant cell type in the stroma of breast cancer (153, 154). In breast cancer tumors, only a small fraction of fibroblasts are quiescent; these fibroblasts are responsible for the structural integrity of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and its nutrient supply and contribute to wound healing (155). However, most fibroblasts exhibit an activated phenotype characterized by producing various extracellular matrix components and paracrine mediators (156). Among the many mechanisms involved in transforming NFs to CAFs, local hypoxia has been proven to drive the differentiation of NFs into activated myofibroblasts by triggering the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) (157, 158). Additionally, CAF activation is reversible: chronic hypoxia inactivates CAFs, leading to the loss of contractility, reduction of surrounding extracellular matrix remodeling, and ultimately damage CAF-mediated cancer cell invasion (159). Studies have shown that hypoxia-dependent deletion of PHD2 suppresses tumor growth and reduces the metastatic activity of CAFs (160, 161). Hypoxia inhibited prolyl hydroxylase domain protein 2 (PHD2), resulting in the stabilization of HIF-1α, reduced expression of αSMA and periostin, and decreased myosin II activity. Treatment with the PHD inhibitor DMOG in an orthotopic breast cancer model significantly reduced spontaneous metastasis to the lungs and liver, which correlated with decreased tumor stiffness and fibroblast activation (159). Another study revealed that the loss of PHD2 is associated with normalization of the vasculature, reduced CAF activation, and decreased intravascular invasion of metastases (161). These findings suggest that blocking PHD2 in CAFs may be a novel strategy for inhibiting prometastatic signals in the breast cancer tumor microenvironment.

In fact, CAFs have been shown to regulate metabolic interdependency between cancer cells and their surrounding microenvironment through the action of HIF (162). HIF-1α is involved in regulating biventricular metabolic symbiosis between synthetic metabolic cancer cells and catabolic stromal fibroblasts (163). The enhanced glycolytic rate shown by CAFs is partially dependent on HIF signaling (164). Furthermore, the high-energy metabolic byproducts produced by catabolic CAFs are taken up by tumor cells to support their high anabolic demands. The increased metabolic flux in cancer cells generates ROS, which then propagate throughout the tumor microenvironment and through CAFs to promote HIF-dependent metabolic reprogramming (165).

3.6 Immune escape

Tumor immune escape, where cancer cells avoid detection and destruction by the host immune system (166), is facilitated under hypoxic conditions through HIF-1α overexpression(Figure 5) (167). HIFs increase CD47 immunoglobulin expression and hinder T cell proliferation and activation by attracting myeloid-derived suppressor cells (). Changes in the expression of CD47, CD73, and PDL1 in TNBC cells treated with chemotherapy agents like carboplatin, doxorubicin, gemcitabine, or paclitaxel enhance cancer cells’ ability to evade both innate and adaptive immune responses (168). Increased PDL1 mRNA expression in human TNBC cell lines was linked to elevated HIF-1α expression due to endoplasmic reticulum oxidoreductase 1-α (ERO1-α), with ERO1-α knockdown significantly reducing PDL1-mediated T-cell apoptosis, suggesting avenues for therapeutic intervention in hypoxia-mediated immune resistance (169).

Regulatory T cells (Tregs), which suppress immune responses through cytokines and metabolites, play a role in tumor development (170173). In TNBC, HIF-1α modulates Tregs’ immunosuppressive functions and aggregation by regulating forkhead box P3 (FoxP3) and C-X-C motif CXCR4. HIF-1α enhances FoxP3 expression by binding to HREs and indirectly increases CXCR4 expression; thus, supporting immunosuppression (174). Moreover, M2 macrophages, known for their immunosuppressive capabilities through IL-10 and TGF-β release, are influenced by HIF-1α (175). This factor drives the polarization of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) towards an M2 phenotype, creating an immunosuppressive microenvironment. It has been shown that TAMs in TNBC are more likely to adopt an M2 phenotype compared to other BC subtypes (176, 177). HIF-1α, present in BRCA1-IRIS overexpressing TNBC cells, secretes high levels of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), recruiting and polarizing macrophages towards an M2 phenotype; thus, facilitating immune escape (178, 179). HIF-1α’s ability to polarize TAM to M2 by regulating GM-CSF and macrophage CSF-1 in TNBC underscores its role in promoting immune evasion. HIF can also lead to extracellular acidification by regulating the expression of MCT4, which not only diminishes immune response efficiency but also impacts the efficacy of anticancer drugs (180).

3.7 Noncoding RNA regulates HIF-1α

Based on their genomic locations, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are categorized into five types: antisense, sense, intergenic, intronic, or bidirectional. The location of lncRNAs can be specific to the nucleus, the cytoplasm, or both (, 181). The expression of lncRNAs is regulated similarly to that of protein-coding RNAs, through mechanisms such as epigenetic modification, gene transcription, and post-transcriptional regulation (182). In tumors, lncRNAs are often abnormally expressed and play roles in the regulation of tumor proliferation, invasion, metastasis, metabolism, angiogenesis, and survival (183, 184). Certain noncoding RNAs can influence tumor-related biological processes by regulating HIF-1α (Figure 6) (, 185, 186). For instance, LINC00649 enhances the stability of HIF-1α mRNA and protein expression by interacting with the nuclear factor 90 (NF90)/NF45 complex (187). MIR210HG specifically impacts triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) by regulating HIF-1α at the translation level, thereby increasing HIF-1α protein expression and influencing the expression of glycolysis genes (114). MicroRNAs (miRNAs) exert a dual regulatory effect on HIF-1α, both promoting and inhibiting its expression. Saatci et al. identified eight common miRNAs that target HIF-1α, lysyl oxidase (LOX), and ITGA5, with miR-142–3p and miR-128–3p showing negative correlation with the expression of HIF-1α, LOX, and ITGA5. Hypoxia can inhibit miR-142–3p, leading to increased HIF-1α mRNA and protein expression, activating the FAK/Src signaling pathway, and triggering chemotherapy resistance in TNBC (188). However, the regulatory mechanism of miR-142–3p on HIF-1α remains unclear. Overexpression of miR-101 decreases VHL levels, stabilizing HIF-1α and inducing VEGFA expression, ultimately enhancing TNBC invasiveness (189). Thus, noncoding RNA regulates HIF-1α expression in TNBC by maintaining the stability of the HIF-1α protein and regulating the stability and translation level of HIF-1α mRNA.

Figure 6

3.8 HIF-1α and drug resistance of breast cancer

In BC treatment options vary by subtype and include surgery, endocrine therapy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and targeted therapy, with drug therapy playing a crucial role depending on the tumor classification. However, drug resistance presents a significant challenge in BC treatment (190192), often due to inherent or acquired resistance over time (193). Hypoxia is a common characteristic of both primary and metastatic BC (194), with HIF-1α expression in tumor tissues associated with poor prognosis and drug resistance (Figure 7) (132). Research indicates that HIF-1α may contribute to resistance against conventional therapies via various signaling pathways, including drug efflux, tumor stem cell enrichment, autophagy, and apoptosis (192, 195), necessitating further investigation into HIF-1α-induced drug resistance mechanisms in BC.

Figure 7

3.9 Increased expression of drug outflow pump

Drug efflux transporters such as MDR1, multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1), and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) are directly regulated by HIF-1α (Figure 7), encoded by the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters ABCB1, ABCC1, and ABCG2, respectively. Their promoters contain HREs sensitive to HIF-1α transcriptional regulation (196). The link between these transporters and drug resistance in BC has been extensively studied (197199), with all three proteins inducing drug resistance by facilitating drug efflux from tumor cells. Studies have shown that hypoxia-induced MDR1 expression can be significantly reduced by inhibiting HIF-1 expression with antisense oligonucleotides (200).In a separate investigation, 41% of BC tumors exhibited increased levels of MDR1, leading to a threefold higher likelihood of chemotherapy failure (201). Taxanes and anthracyclines represent the primary chemotherapy agents for BC treatment. The upregulation of MDR1, also referred to as P-glycoprotein or Pgp, contributes to resistance against taxanes and anthracyclines (202). The activation of HIF-1α enhances the resistance of BC cells to these drugs (147, 203, 204). The genes ABCC1 and ABCG2, which encode MRP1 and BCRP, respectively, possess hypoxia response elements (HREs) upstream of their coding sequences. The deletion of these elements can prevent hypoxia-induced activation (196, 205). MRP1 is elevated in cells with activated HIF-1α, and this effect can be reversed by HIF-1α siRNA, indicating that ABCC1 is a direct target of HIF-1α. Another investigation discovered that HIF-1α binds to the HRE region of the BCRP promoter in LTLTCa cells, with significantly increased binding observed in the presence of CoCl2 (206). The expression of BCRP correlated with the degree of drug resistance to irinotecan and topotecan (207). Hence, it is proposed that the expression and stability of HIF-1α can enhance the mRNA and protein levels of MDR1, MRP1, and BRCP, thereby contributing to HIF-1α-mediated drug resistance.

3.10 Upregulation of autophagy

Autophagy has been shown to increase resistance to endocrine and cytotoxic drugs in BC (208210). HIF-1α can activate various molecular mechanisms, such as inducing PTP-PEST expression and activating AMPK, which in turn increases BNIP3 expression. This disrupts the interaction between Beclin-1 and Bcl-2 and induces autophagy, thereby increasing BC cells’ resistance to drugs like adriamycin (211, 212). Additionally, endocrine therapies, including tamoxifen and flurvist, have been found to increase autophagy markers in drug-resistant BC cells (213, 214). Thus, HIF-1α plays a role in inducing BC resistance to both endocrine and cytotoxic drugs by upregulating autophagy.

3.11 Inhibition of apoptosis

Apoptosis, leading to cell death, is a crucial outcome of most cancer treatments. Cancer cells, however, have developed mechanisms to evade apoptosis, contributing to resistance to chemotherapy or recurrence of tumors (215). This evasion involves various proteins and cytokines, including the Bcl-2 family, apoptosis inhibitor proteins, and the caspase family, along with cytochrome c and proteases (146). HIF-1α plays a direct role in the regulation of apoptosis, exhibiting both proapoptotic and antiapoptotic effects (146). The proapoptotic actions of HIF-1α include the downregulation of proapoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family, such as BNIP3, NIX, and NOXA, while its antiapoptotic effects involve increasing the levels of antiapoptotic proteins like Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, and Mcl-1, and decreasing the levels of proapoptotic proteins such as Bid, Bax, and Bak (216218). In breast cancer (BC) cells, alterations in apoptotic activity following HIF-1α activation are associated with increased drug resistance (147, 219, 220), though the precise mechanisms warrant further investigation.

3.12 Maintenance of the dryness of cancer cells

Stem cells play a significant role in BC, driving tumor progression and metastasis, and displaying inherent resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy (221, 222). These cells can enhance drug efflux, increase drug metabolism in the tumor, activate survival pathways like Notch and Hedgehog, and dampen apoptosis signaling, all contributing to chemoresistance (223). HIF-1α directly upregulates genes such as NANOG, SOX2, KLF4, and OCT4, which inhibit differentiation and maintain a stem cell-like phenotype (203, 224). Furthermore, HIF-1α supports the survival of breast cancer stem cells (BCSC) by inducing ROS-dependent expression of HIF-1α and HIF-2α, leading to HIF-mediated expression of IL-6, IL-8, and MDR1. Exposure of MDA-MB-231, SUM-149, and SUM-159 cells to paclitaxel increased the percentage of ALDH+ cells, indicative of stem cell characteristics, by twelvefold in vitro and in vivo (203). Therefore, HIF-1α activation promotes the proliferation and enrichment of tumor stem cells, contributing to drug resistance.

3.13 Strategies to overcome HIF-1α-dependent drug resistance

To overcome HIF-1α-dependent drug resistance, strategies involve directly or indirectly targeting HIF-1α with inhibitors (225). Direct inhibitors of HIF-1α target protein-protein/DNA interactions, impacting DNA binding, transcriptional activity of HIF-1α, heterodimerization with HIF-1β, and interactions with transcriptional coactivators (226230). Indirect inhibitors aim to downregulate HIF-1α transcription or translation, reduce HIF-1α stability, or prevent its degradation, offering potential pathways to mitigate drug resistance in cancer treatment.

3.14 Breast cancer therapy targeting HIF-1α

Numerous studies have highlighted the potential of HIF-1α inhibitors and compounds targeting the HIF-1α pathway, demonstrating their effectiveness in vitro (, )(Table 2). For instance, treatment of MDA-MB-231 cells with the PHD inhibitor molidustat, which stabilizes HIF, resulted in reduced viability, growth, clone formation, cell cycle arrest, and increased chemosensitivity, indicating potential anticancer activity of HIF (249) Among 68 newly synthesized arylformamide compounds, compound 30 m showed the most potent inhibitory activity against HIF-1α with minimal cytotoxicity, effectively reducing hypoxia-induced HIF-1α protein accumulation (, 250). However, clinical trials have failed to show the effect of HIF-1α inhibitors in BC treatment (, 251)(Table 3). Preliminary data published in 2013 showed some clinical efficacy of digoxin in patients with stages I–III BC. However, the treatment window of the drug is narrow; serum levels exceeding 1–2 nM produce significant side effects. So far, no follow-up data are available (192, 252). The differential expression of HIF-1α and HIF-1α inhibitor monotherapy may be the factors limiting the efficacy of anti-HIF-1α therapy (). Yu et al. discussed the lack of clinical effectiveness of HIF-1α inhibitors (230). First, although both HIF-1α and HIF-2α are involved in cancer progression, most inhibitors have targeted only HIF-1α. Therefore, the role of HIF-2α in drug resistance needs to be understood. Second, patient selection contributes to the success of clinical trials. Accuracy in the measurement of tumor HIF-1α may help to better distinguish responders from non-responders. Finally, although hypoxia varies between and within different BC subtypes, evidence suggests that the hypoxia of the patient’s tumor itself is different (253). This heterogeneity may be the main determinant of the overall drug response. Considering the limitations of HIF-1α inhibitors, a combination of HIF-1α inhibitors with chemotherapeutic drugs or other agents may improve outcomes. A preclinical study indicated that digoxin enhances the sensitivity of triple-negative breast cancer cell lines to paclitaxel and gemcitabine in vivo (203). Interestingly, molidustat has been found to enhance the cytotoxicity of gemcitabine in MDA-MB-231 cells (249). However, currently, the related combination therapy of BC is in the preclinical stage, and thus, a clear conclusion cannot be drawn. The latest HIF-1α drug delivery system is based on nanocarriers that can improve targeting specificity, overcome solubility problems, reduce drug toxicity, and maintain safe drug concentrations. Furthermore, the mode of drug administration also affects the efficacy of HIF-1α-related drugs and should be investigated in future research (). In conclusion, the results on BC cell lines show that aspects, such as comparison of HIF-1α and HIF-2α inhibition, double vs. single isomer inhibition, different statuses of hormone receptors, metastasis, and other unexplored issues, should be considered. Thus, we need to understand the role of HIFs in BC before targeting them for clinical application ().

Table 2

CompoundMechanismType of studyModelReferences
KC7F2Decrease HIF-1a protein accumulationIn vitroMCF-7(231)
QuercetinInhibiting HIF-1a protein accumulationIn vitroSkBr3(232)
LXY6006Inhibit HIF-1a nuclear accumulationIn vitroT47D, MDMBA-231, MX-1(233)
AminoflavoneAF inhibits HIF-1α expressionIn vitroMouse model
(MCF-7)
(234)
7-Hydroxyneolamellarin AInhibit HIF-1a protein accumulationIn vivoMouse model (4T1)(235)
MethylalpinumisoflavoneInhibits HIF-1 activation by blocking the induction of nuclear HIF-1α proteinIn vitroT47D, MDAMB-231(236)
CardenolidesInhibited HIF-1 transcriptional activity dose-dependentlIn vivoMCF-7(237)
PX-478Suppresses HIF-1a levelsIn vitroMouse model
(MCF-7)
(238)
DJ12Decrease HIF-1a transactivation and DNA bindingIn vitroMDA-468, ZR-75, MD435(239)
IsoliquiritigeninIsoliquiritigenin inhibits the expression of HIF-1α by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt and NF-
κB signaling pathways, thereby inhibiting the expression of VEGF and the metastasis of TNBC
In vitroMDA-MB-231 cells(240)
CardamoninCardamonin inhibits the transcriptional level of HIF-1α by inhibiting the mTOR/p70S6K pathway, reducing the level of
HIF-1α protein, thereby enhancing
mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and reducing glucose uptake and lactate
production.
In vitroMDA-MB-231 cells(241)
NanoliposomalechinomycinThe activity of HIF-1 can be inhibited by directly inhibiting the transcriptional activity of HIF-1α and effectively blocking the binding between HIF-1 and HRE.In vivoMDA-MB-231
breast cancer
mice
and
SUM-159
breast cancer
mice
(242)
MelittinMelitin inhibits HIF-1α expression at the transcriptional level mainly by inhibiting NF-kB expressionIn vitroMDA-MB-231 cells(243)
As4S4
nanoparticles
As4S4 nanoparticles reduce the
transcription level of HIF-1α by
scavenging ROS and inhibit the metastasis of TNBC.
In vivo4T1 breast
cancer mice
(244)
SanguinarineSanguinarine promotes proteasomal degradation of HIF-1α by inactivating STAT3 under hypoxia and hinders breast
cancer growth in vivo
In vitroMDA-MB-231 cells(245)
GanetespibGanetespib promotes the degradation of HIF-1α protein, reduces the levels of HIF-
1α protein and target gene proteins and controls angiogenesis, metabolism, invasion and metastasis in TNBC mice.
In vitroMDA-MB-231 cells(246)
AcriflavineInhibition of TNBC premetastatic niche formation by targeting HIF-1αIn vitroMDA-MB-232 cells(247)
Diallyl TrisulfidesDATS inhibits the synthesis of HIF-1α protein by inhibiting the translation level of HIF-1α, thereby reducing the transcriptional activation of downstream target genes L1CAM, snail, slug, VEGF and MMP-2, thereby inhibiting the metastasis of TNBC.In vitroMDA-MB-233 cells(248)

HIF-1α inhibitors under investigation in BC.

Table 3

DrugMain OutcomesConditionsClinical PhaseStudy TypeStatusNCT Number
DigoxinThere was not enough data to analyze HIF-1alpha expression because of the limited tumor samplesBreast CancerIIInterventionalCompletedNCT01763931
Bevacizumab, docetaxelThe rate of serious adverse events is about 18.06% and the rate of other adverse events is 98.61% in totalBreast CancerIIInterventionalCompletedNCT00559754
Paclitaxel plus bevacizumabThere was no significant difference between HIF-1alpha polymorphism and longer PFS in patients
treated with paclitaxel and bevacizumab
Metastatic Breast CancerIObservationalCompletedNCT01935102
VinorelbineMetronomic dosing of oral vinorelbine in HR+/HER2- MBC as first-line CT after failure of endocrine therapies showed only limited benefit in patientsMetastatic Breast CancerIIInterventionalCompletedNCT03007992

HIF-1α related clinical studies in BC.

4 Prospect

HIF-1α, an important transcription factor under hypoxic conditions, plays a crucial role in the growth and development of the body as well as various physiological and pathological processes. HIF-1α induces the expression of numerous genes related to angiogenesis, growth and survival, invasion and metastasis, glucose metabolism, epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), immune evasion, and resistance to various cancer treatments. The overexpression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) is also closely related to drug resistance and prognosis in breast cancer patients. Therefore, regulating the activity of HIF-1α may be a breakthrough in treating many diseases. Upregulating the activity of HIF-1α can increase cell survival under hypoxic conditions and enhance angiogenesis in hypoxic tissues. Conversely, HIF-1α inhibitors can block angiogenesis and reduce the survival rate of hypoxic or inflammatory tissues. This article elaborates on the structure and function of HIF-1α, its mechanism of action in developing breast cancer, and drug resistance mechanisms. This review also summarizes strategies to overcome HIF-1α-dependent drug resistance and the current status of targeted HIF-1α therapy for breast cancer.

However, the complex interactions among multiple pathways involving HIF-1α pose greater challenges for its clinical application as an inhibitor. A deeper understanding of the intricate interactions between oxygen tension, the microenvironment, receptor expression, and HIF-1α expression is needed. This not only facilitates the development of new drug combinations but also aids in the discovery of novel drug targets for breast cancer treatment. Currently, drugs targeting HIF-1α are mainly focused on preclinical research, and their actual clinical effects, patient tolerance, dosing regimens, and other factors require further evaluation and validation. Additionally, drug delivery and efficacy are limited by factors such as tumor acidosis, hypoxic microenvironments, and elevated interstitial fluid pressure within tumors. Therefore, there is a need to develop more suitable drug carriers and delivery systems to enhance therapeutic outcomes. In conclusion, more comprehensive and in-depth research is required on HIF-1α and the pathways it mediates. Although current clinical trials have not yet demonstrated satisfactory results for HIF-1α inhibitors as monotherapy in breast cancer treatment, with continuous and in-depth research on the role of HIF-1α in cancer development, it is believed that targeted HIF-1α therapeutics will bring new hope to breast cancer patients in the near future.

Statements

Author contributions

ShiZ: Validation, Writing – original draft. CC: Validation, Writing – review & editing. HH: Visualization, Writing – review & editing. ZZ: Supervision, Writing – review & editing. FZ: Conceptualization, Funding acquisition, Writing – review & editing. ShuZ: Conceptualization, Funding acquisition, Writing – review & editing.

Funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This research was supported by the Sichuan Science and Technology Program (2022YFS0623) and the Natural Science Foundation of Southwest Medical University (2022QN079).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Publisher’s note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Glossary

BCBreast cancer
EMTEpithelial-mesenchymal transition
HIFHypoxia-inducible factor
HIF-1αHypoxia-inducible factor-1α
HIF-2αHypoxia-inducible factor-2α
HIF-3αHypoxia-inducible factor-3α
HIF-1βHypoxia-inducible factor-1β
bHLH- PASBasic helix-loop-helix/Per-ARNT-Sim
TADsTransactivation domains
C-TADC-terminal transactivation domain
N-TADN-terminal transactivation domain
CBP/p300cAMP response element-binding protein and p300 protein
ODDDOxygen-dependent degradation domain
NLSNuclear localization signals
PHDsProlyl hydroxylase domain-containing proteins
FIHFactor inhibiting HIF-1α
VHLVon Hippel–Lindau protein
UbUbiquitin
HREHypoxia response element
TNBCTriple negative breast cancer
NF-κBNuclear factor-κB
IKKInhibitor of NF-κB kinase
TNFTumor necrosis factor
IL1Interleukin 1
VEGFVascular endothelial growth factor
VEGFRVascular endothelial growth factor receptor
HGFHepatocyte growth factor
VCAM1Vascular cell adhesion molecule 1
BRKBreast tumor kinase
C1QBPComplement C1q binding protein
BDNFBrain-derived neurotrophic factor
ROSReactive oxygen species
ANGPTL4Angiopoetin-like 4
OXPHOSOxidative phosphorylation
GLUTGlucose transporter
HK2Hexokinase 2
PFK16-phosphofructokinase1
ALDAldolase
ENOEnolase
GAPDGlyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase
PGKPhosphoglycerate kinase
PKPyruvate kinase
LDHALactate Dehydrogenase A
PKM2Pyruvate kinase isozymes M2
PDK1Pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1
PDHPyruvate dehydrogenase kinase
MCTMonocarboxy latetransporter
TCATricar boxylic acid
Twist1Twist-related protein 1
STAT3Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3
ZEBZinc finger E-box binding homeobox
TGF-βTransforming growth factor-β
CSF-1Colony-stimulating factor 1
MMPMatrix metalloproteinase
CXCR4C-X-C chemokine receptor type4
CXCR3C-X-C chemokine receptor type3
BNIPBCL2/adenovirus E1B 19 kDa interacting protein
BidBH3 interacting domain death agonist
BAXBcl-2-associated X protein
BAKBCL2 antagonist/killer
BadBCL2 associated agonist of cell death
BNIP3B cell lymphoma 2 interacting protein 3
NIXNIP3-like protein X
BCL2B-cell lymphoma 2
Bcl-XLB-cell lymphoma 2-extra-large protein
BNIP3LBNIP3-like protein
PI3KPhosphoinositide 3-kinase
AKTProtein kinase B
mTORMechanistic target of rapamycin
BIMBCL2 like 11
TregsRegulatory T cells
PDL1Programmed cell death ligand 1
ERO1Endoplasmic reticulum oxidoreductin 1
FOXP3Forkhead box protein 3
IL10Interleukin 10
GM-CSFGranulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor
NF45Nuclear factor 45
NF90Nuclear factor 90
LOXLysyl oxidase
ITGA5Integrin alpha 5
MDR1Multidrug resistance gene 1
MRP1Recombinant multidrug resistance associated protein 1
BCRPBreast cancer resistance protein
ELP3Elongator complex protein 3
PAK1P21-activated protein kinase
AMPKAMP-activated protein kinase
ATG5Autophagy-related gene 5
CSCCancer stem cell
Oct4Octamer transcription factor 4
SOX2SRY-box transcription factor 2
NANOGNanog homeobox
KLF4Kruppel-like transcription factor 4.

References

  • 1

    YongLTangSYuHZhangHZhangYWanYet al. The role of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha in multidrug-resistant breast cancer. Front Oncol. (2022) 12:964934. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2022.964934

  • 2

    SiegelRLMillerKDFuchsHEJemalA. Cancer statistics, 2021. CA Cancer J Clin. (2021) 71:733. doi: 10.3322/caac.21654

  • 3

    ShamisSAKMcMillanDCEdwardsJ. The relationship between hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (Hif-1α) and patient survival in breast cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. (2021) 159:103231. doi: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2021.103231

  • 4

    MunozDNearAMvan RavesteynNTLeeSJSchechterCBAlagozOet al. Effects of screening and systemic adjuvant therapy on er-specific us breast cancer mortality. J Natl Cancer Inst. (2014) 106:1–9. doi: 10.1093/jnci/dju289

  • 5

    KaminskaKAkrapNStaafJAlvesCLEhingerAEbbessonAet al. Distinct mechanisms of resistance to fulvestrant treatment dictate level of er independence and selective response to cdk inhibitors in metastatic breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res. (2021) 23:26. doi: 10.1186/s13058–021-01402–1

  • 6

    VaupelPSchlengerKKnoopCHöckelM. Oxygenation of human tumors: evaluation of tissue oxygen distribution in breast cancers by computerized O2 tension measurements. Cancer Res. (1991) 51:3316–22.

  • 7

    WangWHeYFSunQKWangYHanXHPengDFet al. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1α in breast cancer prognosis. Clin Chim Acta. (2014) 428:32–7. doi: 10.1016/j.cca.2013.10.018

  • 8

    LiRLHeLYZhangQLiuJLuFDuanHXet al. Hif-1α Is a potential molecular target for herbal medicine to treat diseases. Drug Des Devel Ther. (2020) 14:4915–49. doi: 10.2147/dddt.S274980

  • 9

    SemenzaGLWangGL. A nuclear factor induced by hypoxia via de novo protein synthesis binds to the human erythropoietin gene enhancer at a site required for transcriptional activation. Mol Cell Biol. (1992) 12:5447–54. doi: 10.1128/mcb.12.12.5447–5454.1992

  • 10

    RashidMZadehLRBaradaranBMolaviOGhesmatiZSabzichiMet al. Up-down regulation of hif-1α in cancer progression. Gene. (2021) 798:145796. doi: 10.1016/j.gene.2021.145796

  • 11

    LeCouterJKowalskiJFosterJHassPZhangZDillard-TelmLet al. Identification of an angiogenic mitogen selective for endocrine gland endothelium. Nature. (2001) 412:877–84. doi: 10.1038/35091000

  • 12

    ChenCPoreNBehroozAIsmail-BeigiFMaityA. Regulation of glut1 mrna by hypoxia-inducible factor-1. Interaction between H-ras and hypoxia. J Biol Chem. (2001) 276:9519–25. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M010144200

  • 13

    Ben-YosefYLahatNShapiroSBittermanHMillerA. Regulation of endothelial matrix metalloproteinase-2 by hypoxia/reoxygenation. Circ Res. (2002) 90:784–91. doi: 10.1161/01.RES.0000015588.70132.DC

  • 14

    KrishnamacharyBBerg-DixonSKellyBAganiFFeldserDFerreiraGet al. Regulation of colon carcinoma cell invasion by hypoxia-inducible factor 1. Cancer Res. (2003) 63:1138–43.

  • 15

    BalamuruganK. Hif-1 at the crossroads of hypoxia, inflammation, and cancer. Int J Cancer. (2016) 138:1058–66. doi: 10.1002/ijc.29519

  • 16

    SemenzaGL. Defining the role of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 in cancer biology and therapeutics. Oncogene. (2010) 29:625–34. doi: 10.1038/onc.2009.441

  • 17

    ChenXLiuJHeBLiYLiuSWuBet al. Vascular endothelial growth factor (Vegf) regulation by hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (Hif1a) starts and peaks during endometrial breakdown, not repair, in a mouse menstrual-like model. Hum Reprod. (2015) 30:2160–70. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dev156

  • 18

    GuruSKPathaniaASKumarSRameshDKumarMRanaSet al. Secalonic acid-D represses hif1α/vegf-mediated angiogenesis by regulating the akt/mtor/P70s6k signaling cascade. Cancer Res. (2015) 75:2886–96. doi: 10.1158/0008–5472.Can-14–2312

  • 19

    RenQZQianZHJiaSHXuZZ. Vascular endothelial growth factor expression up-regulated by endometrial ischemia in secretory phase plays an important role in endometriosis. Fertil Steril. (2011) 95:2687–9. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2011.05.001

  • 20

    JingSWWangYDKurodaMSuJWSunGGLiuQet al. Hif-1α Contributes to hypoxia-induced invasion and metastasis of esophageal carcinoma via inhibiting E-cadherin and promoting mmp-2 expression. Acta Med Okayama. (2012) 66:399407. doi: 10.18926/amo/48964

  • 21

    LiuHZhangZXiongWZhangLXiongYLiNet al. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α Promotes endometrial stromal cells migration and invasion by upregulating autophagy in endometriosis. Reproduction. (2017) 153:809–20. doi: 10.1530/rep-16–0643

  • 22

    XiongYLiuYXiongWZhangLLiuHDuYet al. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1α-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition of endometrial epithelial cells may contribute to the development of endometriosis. Hum Reprod. (2016) 31:1327–38. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dew081

  • 23

    RankinEBGiacciaAJ. Hypoxic control of metastasis. Science. (2016) 352:175–80. doi: 10.1126/science.aaf4405

  • 24

    BertoutJAPatelSASimonMC. The impact of O2 availability on human cancer. Nat Rev Cancer. (2008) 8:967–75. doi: 10.1038/nrc2540

  • 25

    WangXZhaoDXieHHuY. Interplay of long non-coding rnas and hif-1α: A new dimension to understanding hypoxia-regulated tumor growth and metastasis. Cancer Lett. (2021) 499:4959. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2020.11.007

  • 26

    HuangYLinDTaniguchiCM. Hypoxia inducible factor (Hif) in the tumor microenvironment: friend or foe? Sci China Life Sci. (2017) 60:1114–24. doi: 10.1007/s11427-017-9178-y

  • 27

    PrabhakarNRSemenzaGL. Adaptive and maladaptive cardiorespiratory responses to continuous and intermittent hypoxia mediated by hypoxia-inducible factors 1 and 2. Physiol Rev. (2012) 92:9671003. doi: 10.1152/physrev.00030.2011

  • 28

    SchitoLSemenzaGL. Hypoxia-inducible factors: master regulators of cancer progression. Trends Cancer. (2016) 2:758–70. doi: 10.1016/j.trecan.2016.10.016

  • 29

    KheshtchinNHadjatiJ. Targeting hypoxia and hypoxia-inducible factor-1 in the tumor microenvironment for optimal cancer immunotherapy. J Cell Physiol. (2022) 237:1285–98. doi: 10.1002/jcp.30643

  • 30

    WangVDavisDAHaqueMHuangLEYarchoanR. Differential gene up-regulation by hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha and hypoxia-inducible factor-2alpha in hek293t cells. Cancer Res. (2005) 65:3299–306. doi: 10.1158/0008–5472.Can-04–4130

  • 31

    ZhangJQinYMartinezMFlores-BellverMRodriguesMDinabandhuAet al. Hif-1α and hif-2α Redundantly promote retinal neovascularization in patients with ischemic retinal disease. J Clin Invest. (2021) 131:1–19. doi: 10.1172/jci139202

  • 32

    KohMYLemosRJr.LiuXPowisG. The hypoxia-associated factor switches cells from hif-1α- to hif-2α-dependent signaling promoting stem cell characteristics, aggressive tumor growth and invasion. Cancer Res. (2011) 71:4015–27. doi: 10.1158/0008–5472.Can-10–4142

  • 33

    DownesNLLaham-KaramNKaikkonenMUYlä-HerttualaS. Differential but complementary hif1α and hif2α Transcriptional regulation. Mol Ther. (2018) 26:1735–45. doi: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2018.05.004

  • 34

    LinQCongXYunZ. Differential hypoxic regulation of hypoxia-inducible factors 1alpha and 2alpha. Mol Cancer Res. (2011) 9:757–65. doi: 10.1158/1541–7786.Mcr-11–0053

  • 35

    KeithBJohnsonRSSimonMC. Hif1α and hif2α: sibling rivalry in hypoxic tumour growth and progression. Nat Rev Cancer. (2011) 12:922. doi: 10.1038/nrc3183

  • 36

    KohMYPowisG. Passing the baton: the hif switch. Trends Biochem Sci. (2012) 37:364–72. doi: 10.1016/j.tibs.2012.06.004

  • 37

    HaraSHamadaJKobayashiCKondoYImuraN. Expression and characterization of hypoxia-inducible factor (Hif)-3alpha in human kidney: suppression of hif-mediated gene expression by hif-3alpha. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. (2001) 287:808–13. doi: 10.1006/bbrc.2001.5659

  • 38

    DuanC. Hypoxia-inducible factor 3 biology: complexities and emerging themes. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. (2016) 310:C260–9. doi: 10.1152/ajpcell.00315.2015

  • 39

    CowmanSJKohMY. Revisiting the hif switch in the tumor and its immune microenvironment. Trends Cancer. (2022) 8:2842. doi: 10.1016/j.trecan.2021.10.004

  • 40

    GhoshRSamantaPSarkarRBiswasSSahaPHajraSet al. Targeting hif-1α by natural and synthetic compounds: A promising approach for anti-cancer therapeutics development. Molecules. (2022) 27:1–37. doi: 10.3390/molecules27165192

  • 41

    WangGLSemenzaGL. Purification and characterization of hypoxia-inducible factor 1. J Biol Chem. (1995) 270:1230–7. doi: 10.1074/jbc.270.3.1230

  • 42

    ZengCYWangXFHuaFZ. Hif-1α in osteoarthritis: from pathogenesis to therapeutic implications. Front Pharmacol. (2022) 13:927126. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2022.927126

  • 43

    Fernández-TorresJMartínez-NavaGAGutiérrez-RuízMCGómez-QuirozLEGutiérrezM. Role of hif-1α Signaling pathway in osteoarthritis: A systematic review. Rev Bras Reumatol Engl Ed. (2017) 57:162–73. doi: 10.1016/j.rbre.2016.07.008

  • 44

    KewleyRJWhitelawMLChapman-SmithA. The mammalian basic helix-loop-helix/pas family of transcriptional regulators. Int J Biochem Cell Biol. (2004) 36:189204. doi: 10.1016/s1357–2725(03)00211–5

  • 45

    XuRWangFYangHWangZ. Action sites and clinical application of hif-1α Inhibitors. Molecules. (2022) 27:1–14. doi: 10.3390/molecules27113426

  • 46

    SchmidTZhouJBrüneB. Hif-1 and P53: communication of transcription factors under hypoxia. J Cell Mol Med. (2004) 8:423–31. doi: 10.1111/j.1582-4934.2004.tb00467.x

  • 47

    LiZLWangBLvLLTangTTWenYCaoJYet al. Fih-1-modulated hif-1α C-tad promotes acute kidney injury to chronic kidney disease progression via regulating klf5 signaling. Acta Pharmacol Sin. (2021) 42:2106–19. doi: 10.1038/s41401–021-00617–4

  • 48

    JiangBHZhengJZLeungSWRoeRSemenzaGL. Transactivation and inhibitory domains of hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha. Modulation of transcriptional activity by oxygen tension. J Biol Chem. (1997) 272:19253–60. doi: 10.1074/jbc.272.31.19253

  • 49

    KeQCostaM. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (Hif-1). Mol Pharmacol. (2006) 70:1469–80. doi: 10.1124/mol.106.027029

  • 50

    BruickRKMcKnightSL. A conserved family of prolyl-4-hydroxylases that modify hif. Science. (2001) 294:1337–40. doi: 10.1126/science.1066373

  • 51

    HuangLEGuJSchauMBunnHF. Regulation of hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha is mediated by an O2-dependent degradation domain via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Proc Natl Acad Sci U.S.A. (1998) 95:7987–92. doi: 10.1073/pnas.95.14.7987

  • 52

    RochaS. Gene regulation under low oxygen: holding your breath for transcription. Trends Biochem Sci. (2007) 32:389–97. doi: 10.1016/j.tibs.2007.06.005

  • 53

    InfantinoVSantarsieroAConvertiniPTodiscoSIacobazziV. Cancer cell metabolism in hypoxia: role of hif-1 as key regulator and therapeutic target. Int J Mol Sci. (2021) 22:1–20. doi: 10.3390/ijms22115703

  • 54

    LeeJWBaeSHJeongJWKimSHKimKW. Hypoxia-inducible factor (Hif-1)Alpha: its protein stability and biological functions. Exp Mol Med. (2004) 36:112. doi: 10.1038/emm.2004.1

  • 55

    KozalKKrześlakA. The role of hypoxia-inducible factor isoforms in breast cancer and perspectives on their inhibition in therapy. Cancers (Basel). (2022) 14:1–20. doi: 10.3390/cancers14184518

  • 56

    MalkovMILeeCTTaylorCT. Regulation of the hypoxia-inducible factor (Hif) by pro-inflammatory cytokines. Cells. (2021) 10:1–15. doi: 10.3390/cells10092340

  • 57

    KeeleyTPMannGE. Defining physiological normoxia for improved translation of cell physiology to animal models and humans. Physiol Rev. (2019) 99:161234. doi: 10.1152/physrev.00041.2017

  • 58

    RaniSRoySSinghMKaithwasG. Regulation of transactivation at C-tad domain of hif-1α by factor-inhibiting hif-1α (Fih-1): A potential target for therapeutic intervention in cancer. Oxid Med Cell Longev. (2022) 2022:2407223. doi: 10.1155/2022/2407223

  • 59

    YangHHuangJMaoYWangLLiRHaC. Vitexin alleviates interleukin-1β-induced inflammatory responses in chondrocytes from osteoarthritis patients: involvement of hif-1α Pathway. Scand J Immunol. (2019) 90:e12773. doi: 10.1111/sji.12773

  • 60

    HagenTTaylorCTLamFMoncadaS. Redistribution of intracellular oxygen in hypoxia by nitric oxide: effect on hif1alpha. Science. (2003) 302:1975–8. doi: 10.1126/science.1088805

  • 61

    SinghMDeviURoySGuptaPSSarafSAKaithwasG. Prolyl hydroxylase mediated inhibition of fatty acid synthase to combat tumor growth in mammary gland carcinoma. Breast Cancer. (2016) 23:820–9. doi: 10.1007/s12282–016-0683–6

  • 62

    LiuQGuanCLiuCLiHWuJSunC. Targeting hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha: A new strategy for triple-negative breast cancer therapy. BioMed Pharmacother. (2022) 156:113861. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113861

  • 63

    KoYSRugiraTJinHJooYNKimHJ. Radiotherapy-resistant breast cancer cells enhance tumor progression by enhancing premetastatic niche formation through the hif-1α-lox axis. Int J Mol Sci. (2020) 21:1–14. doi: 10.3390/ijms21218027

  • 64

    CrowderSWBalikovDAHwangYSSungHJ. Cancer stem cells under hypoxia as a chemoresistance factor in breast and brain. Curr Pathobiol Rep. (2014) 2:3340. doi: 10.1007/s40139–013-0035–6

  • 65

    LanJLuHSamantaDSalmanSLuYSemenzaGL. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1-dependent expression of adenosine receptor 2b promotes breast cancer stem cell enrichment. Proc Natl Acad Sci U.S.A. (2018) 115:E9640–e8. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1809695115

  • 66

    KrockBLSkuliNSimonMC. Hypoxia-induced angiogenesis: good and evil. Genes Cancer. (2011) 2:1117–33. doi: 10.1177/1947601911423654

  • 67

    OzreticPAlvirISarcevicBVujaskovicZRendic-MiocevicZRoguljicAet al. Apoptosis regulator bcl-2 is an independent prognostic marker for worse overall survival in triple-negative breast cancer patients. Int J Biol Markers. (2018) 33:109–15. doi: 10.5301/ijbm.5000291

  • 68

    LeeSHGolinskaMGriffithsJR. Hif-1-independent mechanisms regulating metabolic adaptation in hypoxic cancer cells. Cells. (2021) 10:1–25. doi: 10.3390/cells10092371

  • 69

    LockFEMcDonaldPCLouYSerranoIChafeSCOstlundCet al. Targeting carbonic anhydrase ix depletes breast cancer stem cells within the hypoxic niche. Oncogene. (2013) 32:5210–9. doi: 10.1038/onc.2012.550

  • 70

    JinW. Role of jak/stat3 signaling in the regulation of metastasis, the transition of cancer stem cells, and chemoresistance of cancer by epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Cells. (2020) 9:1–23. doi: 10.3390/cells9010217

  • 71

    SrivastavaNUsmaniSSSubbarayanRSainiRPandeyPK. Hypoxia: syndicating triple negative breast cancer against various therapeutic regimens. Front Oncol. (2023) 13:1199105. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1199105

  • 72

    MaSZhaoYLeeWCOngLTLeePLJiangZet al. Hypoxia induces hif1α-dependent epigenetic vulnerability in triple negative breast cancer to confer immune effector dysfunction and resistance to anti-pd-1 immunotherapy. Nat Commun. (2022) 13:4118. doi: 10.1038/s41467–022-31764–9

  • 73

    CaoLWangMDongYXuBChenJDingYet al. Circular rna circrnf20 promotes breast cancer tumorigenesis and warburg effect through mir-487a/hif-1α/hk2. Cell Death Dis. (2020) 11:145. doi: 10.1038/s41419–020-2336–0

  • 74

    WuHChuYSunSLiGXuSZhangXet al. Hypoxia-mediated complement 1q binding protein regulates metastasis and chemoresistance in triple-negative breast cancer and modulates the pkc-nf-Kb-vcam-1 signaling pathway. Front Cell Dev Biol. (2021) 9:607142. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2021.607142

  • 75

    GogginsEKakkadSMironchikYJacobDWildesFKrishnamacharyBet al. Hypoxia inducible factors modify collagen I fibers in mda-mb-231 triple negative breast cancer xenografts. Neoplasia. (2018) 20:131–9. doi: 10.1016/j.neo.2017.11.010

  • 76

    StorciGSansonePMariSD’UvaGTavolariSGuarnieriTet al. Tnfalpha up-regulates slug via the nf-kappab/hif1alpha axis, which imparts breast cancer cells with a stem cell-like phenotype. J Cell Physiol. (2010) 225:682–91. doi: 10.1002/jcp.22264

  • 77

    YangMHWuMZChiouSHChenPMChangSYLiuCJet al. Direct regulation of twist by hif-1alpha promotes metastasis. Nat Cell Biol. (2008) 10:295305. doi: 10.1038/ncb1691

  • 78

    WeidemannAJohnsonRS. Biology of hif-1alpha. Cell Death Differ. (2008) 15:621–7. doi: 10.1038/cdd.2008.12

  • 79

    SemenzaGL. Oxygen sensing, hypoxia-inducible factors, and disease pathophysiology. Annu Rev Pathol. (2014) 9:4771. doi: 10.1146/annurev-pathol-012513–104720

  • 80

    BerraERichardDEGothiéEPouysségurJ. Hif-1-dependent transcriptional activity is required for oxygen-mediated hif-1alpha degradation. FEBS Lett. (2001) 491:8590. doi: 10.1016/s0014–5793(01)02159–7

  • 81

    LuoSJiangYAnfuZZhaoYWuXLiMet al. Targeting hypoxia-inducible factors for breast cancer therapy: A narrative review. Front Pharmacol. (2022) 13:1064661. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1064661

  • 82

    HanahanDWeinbergRA. The hallmarks of cancer. Cell. (2000) 100:5770. doi: 10.1016/s0092–8674(00)81683–9

  • 83

    HanahanDFolkmanJ. Patterns and emerging mechanisms of the angiogenic switch during tumorigenesis. Cell. (1996) 86:353–64. doi: 10.1016/s0092–8674(00)80108–7

  • 84

    PotenteMGerhardtHCarmelietP. Basic and therapeutic aspects of angiogenesis. Cell. (2011) 146:873–87. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2011.08.039

  • 85

    ReySSchitoLWoutersBGEliasofSKerbelRS. Targeting hypoxia-inducible factors for antiangiogenic cancer therapy. Trends Cancer. (2017) 3:529–41. doi: 10.1016/j.trecan.2017.05.002

  • 86

    RapisardaAMelilloG. Overcoming disappointing results with antiangiogenic therapy by targeting hypoxia. Nat Rev Clin Oncol. (2012) 9:378–90. doi: 10.1038/nrclinonc.2012.64

  • 87

    ViallardCLarrivéeB. Tumor angiogenesis and vascular normalization: alternative therapeutic targets. Angiogenesis. (2017) 20:409–26. doi: 10.1007/s10456–017-9562–9

  • 88

    HashimotoTShibasakiF. Hypoxia-inducible factor as an angiogenic master switch. Front Pediatr. (2015) 3:33. doi: 10.3389/fped.2015.00033

  • 89

    OlejarzWKubiak-TomaszewskaGChrzanowskaALorencT. Exosomes in angiogenesis and anti-angiogenic therapy in cancers. Int J Mol Sci. (2020) 21:1–25. doi: 10.3390/ijms21165840

  • 90

    BadodekarNSharmaAPatilVTelangGSharmaRPatilSet al. Angiogenesis induction in breast cancer: A paracrine paradigm. Cell Biochem Funct. (2021) 39:860–73. doi: 10.1002/cbf.3663

  • 91

    BosRZhongHHanrahanCFMommersECSemenzaGLPinedoHMet al. Levels of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha during breast carcinogenesis. J Natl Cancer Inst. (2001) 93:309–14. doi: 10.1093/jnci/93.4.309

  • 92

    MaxwellPHDachsGUGleadleJMNichollsLGHarrisALStratfordIJet al. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 modulates gene expression in solid tumors and influences both angiogenesis and tumor growth. Proc Natl Acad Sci U.S.A. (1997) 94:8104–9. doi: 10.1073/pnas.94.15.8104

  • 93

    BaldewijnsMMThijssenVLVan den EyndenGGVan LaereSJBluekensAMRoskamsTet al. High-grade clear cell renal cell carcinoma has a higher angiogenic activity than low-grade renal cell carcinoma based on histomorphological quantification and qrt-pcr mrna expression profile. Br J Cancer. (2007) 96:1888–95. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6603796

  • 94

    RyanHEPoloniMMcNultyWElsonDGassmannMArbeitJMet al. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha is a positive factor in solid tumor growth. Cancer Res. (2000) 60:4010–5.

  • 95

    PiresBRBBinatoRFerreiraGMCecchiniRPanisCAbdelhayE. Nf-kappab regulates redox status in breast cancer subtypes. Genes (Basel). (2018) 9:1–21. doi: 10.3390/genes9070320

  • 96

    LawrenceT. The nuclear factor nf-kappab pathway in inflammation. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. (2009) 1:a001651. doi: 10.1101/cshperspect.a001651

  • 97

    CulverCSundqvistAMudieSMelvinAXirodimasDRochaS. Mechanism of hypoxia-induced nf-kappab. Mol Cell Biol. (2010) 30:4901–21. doi: 10.1128/mcb.00409–10

  • 98

    LiangSChenZJiangGZhouYLiuQSuQet al. Activation of gper suppresses migration and angiogenesis of triple negative breast cancer via inhibition of nf-Kb/il-6 signals. Cancer Lett. (2017) 386:1223. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2016.11.003

  • 99

    JinYHuynhDTNMyungCSHeoKS. Ginsenoside rh1 prevents migration and invasion through mitochondrial ros-mediated inhibition of stat3/nf-Kb signaling in mda-mb-231 cells. Int J Mol Sci. (2021) 22:1–16. doi: 10.3390/ijms221910458

  • 100

    ChangchunKPengchaoHKeSYingWLeiW. Interleukin-17 augments tumor necrosis factor A-mediated increase of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and inhibits vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein expression to reduce the adhesion of breast cancer cells. Oncol Lett. (2017) 13:3253–60. doi: 10.3892/ol.2017.5825

  • 101

    DarbeheshtiFMahdiannasserMNorooziZFirooziZMansooriBDaraeiAet al. Circular rna-associated cerna network involved in hif-1 signalling in triple-negative breast cancer: circ_0047303 as a potential key regulator. J Cell Mol Med. (2021) 25:11322–32. doi: 10.1111/jcmm.17066

  • 102

    SemenzaGL. Hif-1: using two hands to flip the angiogenic switch. Cancer Metastasis Rev. (2000) 19:5965. doi: 10.1023/a:1026544214667

  • 103

    SchoppmannSFFenzlASchindlMBachleitner-HofmannTNagyKGnantMet al. Hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha correlates with vegf-C expression and lymphangiogenesis in breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat. (2006) 99:135–41. doi: 10.1007/s10549–006-9190–3

  • 104

    SaponaroCMalfettoneARanieriGDanzaKSimoneGParadisoAet al. Vegf, hif-1α Expression and mvd as an angiogenic network in familial breast cancer. PloS One. (2013) 8:e53070. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0053070

  • 105

    AhluwaliaATarnawskiAS. Critical role of hypoxia sensor–hif-1α in vegf gene activation. Implications for angiogenesis and tissue injury healing. Curr Med Chem. (2012) 19:90–7. doi: 10.2174/092986712803413944

  • 106

    HaitNCMaitiAXuPQiQKawaguchiTOkanoMet al. Regulation of hypoxia-inducible factor functions in the nucleus by sphingosine-1-phosphate. FASEB J. (2020) 34:4293–310. doi: 10.1096/fj.201901734RR

  • 107

    Regan AndersonTMMaSHRajGVCidlowskiJAHelleTMKnutsonTPet al. Breast tumor kinase (Brk/ptk6) is induced by hif, glucocorticoid receptor, and pelp1-mediated stress signaling in triple-negative breast cancer. Cancer Res. (2016) 76:1653–63. doi: 10.1158/0008–5472.Can-15–2510

  • 108

    TironARistescuIPostuPATironCEZugun-EloaeFGrigorasI. Long-term deleterious effects of short-term hyperoxia on cancer progression-is brain-derived neurotrophic factor an important mediator? An experimental study. Cancers (Basel). (2020) 12:1–18. doi: 10.3390/cancers12030688

  • 109

    de HeerECJalvingMHarrisAL. Hifs, angiogenesis, and metabolism: elusive enemies in breast cancer. J Clin Invest. (2020) 130:5074–87. doi: 10.1172/jci137552

  • 110

    NiuYBaoLChenYWangCLuoMZhangBet al. Hif2-induced long noncoding rna rab11b-as1 promotes hypoxia-mediated angiogenesis and breast cancer metastasis. Cancer Res. (2020) 80:964–75. doi: 10.1158/0008–5472.Can-19–1532

  • 111

    PangRWPoonRT. Clinical implications of angiogenesis in cancers. Vasc Health Risk Manag. (2006) 2:97108. doi: 10.2147/vhrm.2006.2.2.97

  • 112

    WangLFanJYanCYLingRYunJ. Activation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α by prolonged in vivo hyperinsulinemia treatment potentiates cancerous progression in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. (2017) 491:545–51. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2017.03.128

  • 113

    Muñoz-NájarUMNeurathKMVumbacaFClaffeyKP. Hypoxia stimulates breast carcinoma cell invasion through mt1-mmp and mmp-2 activation. Oncogene. (2006) 25:2379–92. doi: 10.1038/sj.onc.1209273

  • 114

    DuYWeiNMaRJiangSHSongD. Long noncoding rna mir210hg promotes the warburg effect and tumor growth by enhancing hif-1α Translation in triple-negative breast cancer. Front Oncol. (2020) 10:580176. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2020.580176

  • 115

    LoftusRMFinlayDK. Immunometabolism: cellular metabolism turns immune regulator. J Biol Chem. (2016) 291:110. doi: 10.1074/jbc.R115.693903

  • 116

    FerrerCMLynchTPSodiVLFalconeJNSchwabLPPeacockDLet al. O-glcnacylation regulates cancer metabolism and survival stress signaling via regulation of the hif-1 pathway. Mol Cell. (2014) 54:820–31. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2014.04.026

  • 117

    KozalKJóźwiakPKrześlakA. Contemporary perspectives on the warburg effect inhibition in cancer therapy. Cancer Control. (2021) 28:10732748211041243. doi: 10.1177/10732748211041243

  • 118

    LeePChandelNSSimonMC. Cellular adaptation to hypoxia through hypoxia inducible factors and beyond. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. (2020) 21:268–83. doi: 10.1038/s41580-020-0227-y

  • 119

    LibertiMVLocasaleJW. The warburg effect: how does it benefit cancer cells? Trends Biochem Sci. (2016) 41:211–8. doi: 10.1016/j.tibs.2015.12.001

  • 120

    El-SahliSWangL. Cancer stem cell-associated pathways in the metabolic reprogramming of breast cancer. Int J Mol Sci. (2020) 21:1–23. doi: 10.3390/ijms21239125

  • 121

    ZareMEKansestaniANHemmatiSMansouriKVaisi-RayganiA. The rate of aerobic glycolysis is a pivotal regulator of tumor progression. J Diabetes Metab Disord. (2021) 20:523–31. doi: 10.1007/s40200–021-00774–7

  • 122

    RastogiSMishraSSAroraMKKaithwasGBanerjeeSRavichandiranVet al. Lactate acidosis and simultaneous recruitment of tgf-B Leads to alter plasticity of hypoxic cancer cells in tumor microenvironment. Pharmacol Ther. (2023) 250:108519. doi: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2023.108519

  • 123

    ShiQLeXWangBAbbruzzeseJLXiongQHeYet al. Regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor expression by acidosis in human cancer cells. Oncogene. (2001) 20:3751–6. doi: 10.1038/sj.onc.1204500

  • 124

    LuHForbesRAVermaA. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 activation by aerobic glycolysis implicates the warburg effect in carcinogenesis. J Biol Chem. (2002) 277:23111–5. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M202487200

  • 125

    JungSYSongHSParkSYChungSHKimYJ. Pyruvate promotes tumor angiogenesis through hif-1-dependent pai-1 expression. Int J Oncol. (2011) 38:571–6. doi: 10.3892/ijo.2010.859

  • 126

    DillekåsHRogersMSStraumeO. Are 90% of deaths from cancer caused by metastases? Cancer Med. (2019) 8:5574–6. doi: 10.1002/cam4.2474

  • 127

    LeeJMDedharSKalluriRThompsonEW. The epithelial-mesenchymal transition: new insights in signaling, development, and disease. J Cell Biol. (2006) 172:973–81. doi: 10.1083/jcb.200601018

  • 128

    LeeKGjorevskiNBoghaertERadiskyDCNelsonCM. Snail1, snail2, and E47 promote mammary epithelial branching morphogenesis. EMBO J. (2011) 30:2662–74. doi: 10.1038/emboj.2011.159

  • 129

    BaoBAzmiASAliSAhmadALiYBanerjeeSet al. The biological kinship of hypoxia with csc and emt and their relationship with deregulated expression of mirnas and tumor aggressiveness. Biochim Biophys Acta. (2012) 1826:272–96. doi: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2012.04.008

  • 130

    YangHGengYHWangPZhouYTYangHHuoYFet al. Extracellular atp promotes breast cancer invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition via hypoxia-inducible factor 2α Signaling. Cancer Sci. (2019) 110:2456–70. doi: 10.1111/cas.14086

  • 131

    BaoXZhangJHuangGYanJXuCDouZet al. The crosstalk between hifs and mitochondrial dysfunctions in cancer development. Cell Death Dis. (2021) 12:215. doi: 10.1038/s41419–021-03505–1

  • 132

    GilkesDMSemenzaGL. Role of hypoxia-inducible factors in breast cancer metastasis. Future Oncol. (2013) 9:1623–36. doi: 10.2217/fon.13.92

  • 133

    ZhouZWangSSongCHuZ. Paeoniflorin prevents hypoxia-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in human breast cancer cells. Onco Targets Ther. (2016) 9:2511–8. doi: 10.2147/ott.S102422

  • 134

    ChengWXiaoXLiaoYCaoQWangCLiXet al. Conducive target range of breast cancer: hypoxic tumor microenvironment. Front Oncol. (2022) 12:978276. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2022.978276

  • 135

    KaiKIwamotoTZhangDShenLTakahashiYRaoAet al. Csf-1/csf-1r axis is associated with epithelial/mesenchymal hybrid phenotype in epithelial-like inflammatory breast cancer. Sci Rep. (2018) 8:9427. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-27409-x

  • 136

    ChenJImanakaNChenJGriffinJD. Hypoxia potentiates notch signaling in breast cancer leading to decreased E-cadherin expression and increased cell migration and invasion. Br J Cancer. (2010) 102:351–60. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6605486

  • 137

    HamadHAEnezeiHHAlrawasAZakuanNMAbdullahNACheahYKet al. Identification of potential chemical substrates as fuel for hypoxic tumors that may be linked to invadopodium formation in hypoxia-induced mda-mb-231 breast-cancer cell line. Molecules. (2020) 25:1–17. doi: 10.3390/molecules25173876

  • 138

    ChoiJYJangYSMinSYSongJY. Overexpression of mmp-9 and hif-1α in breast cancer cells under hypoxic conditions. J Breast Cancer. (2011) 14:8895. doi: 10.4048/jbc.2011.14.2.88

  • 139

    LinQFangXLiangGLuoQCenYShiYet al. Silencing ctnnd1 mediates triple-negative breast cancer bone metastasis via upregulating cxcr4/cxcl12 axis and neutrophils infiltration in bone. Cancers (Basel). (2021) 13:1–21. doi: 10.3390/cancers13225703

  • 140

    ToddVMVecchiLA3rdClementsMESnowKPOntkoCDHimmelLet al. Hypoxia inducible factor signaling in breast tumors controls spontaneous tumor dissemination in a site-specific manner. Commun Biol. (2021) 4:1122. doi: 10.1038/s42003–021-02648–3

  • 141

    ZhangHWongCCLWeiHGilkesDMKorangathPChaturvediPet al. Correction: hif-1-dependent expression of angiopoietin-like 4 and L1cam mediates vascular metastasis of hypoxic breast cancer cells to the lungs. Oncogene. (2021) 40:1552–3. doi: 10.1038/s41388-020-01618-z

  • 142

    HeJWangJLiSLiTChenKZhangS. Hypoxia-inhibited mir-338–3p suppresses breast cancer progression by directly targeting zeb2. Cancer Sci. (2020) 111:3550–63. doi: 10.1111/cas.14589

  • 143

    MoonEJMelloSSLiCGChiJTThakkarKKirklandJGet al. The hif target maff promotes tumor invasion and metastasis through il11 and stat3 signaling. Nat Commun. (2021) 12:4308. doi: 10.1038/s41467–021-24631–6

  • 144

    LiangYSongXLiYChenBZhaoWWangLet al. Lncrna bcrt1 promotes breast cancer progression by targeting mir-1303/ptbp3 axis. Mol Cancer. (2020) 19:85. doi: 10.1186/s12943–020-01206–5

  • 145

    LiuXQiaoKZhuKLiXZhaoCLiJet al. Long noncoding rna hcg18 promotes Malignant phenotypes of breast cancer cells via the hcg18/mir-103a-3p/ube2o/mtorc1/hif-1α-positive feedback loop. Front Cell Dev Biol. (2021) 9:675082. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2021.675082

  • 146

    SendoelAHengartnerMO. Apoptotic cell death under hypoxia. Physiol (Bethesda). (2014) 29:168–76. doi: 10.1152/physiol.00016.2013

  • 147

    FlamantLNotteANinaneNRaesMMichielsC. Anti-apoptotic role of hif-1 and ap-1 in paclitaxel exposed breast cancer cells under hypoxia. Mol Cancer. (2010) 9:191. doi: 10.1186/1476–4598-9–191

  • 148

    ZhongRXuHChenGZhaoGGaoYLiuXet al. The role of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α in radiation-induced autophagic cell death in breast cancer cells. Tumour Biol. (2015) 36:7077–83. doi: 10.1007/s13277-015-3425-z

  • 149

    MichelsJJohnsonPWPackhamG. Mcl-1. Int J Biochem Cell Biol. (2005) 37:267–71. doi: 10.1016/j.biocel.2004.04.007

  • 150

    ZhangHBosch-MarceMShimodaLATanYSBaekJHWesleyJBet al. Mitochondrial autophagy is an hif-1-dependent adaptive metabolic response to hypoxia. J Biol Chem. (2008) 283:10892–903. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M800102200

  • 151

    WigerupCPåhlmanSBexellD. Therapeutic targeting of hypoxia and hypoxia-inducible factors in cancer. Pharmacol Ther. (2016) 164:152–69. doi: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2016.04.009

  • 152

    RomeroMABayraktar EkmekcigilOBagcaBGAvciCBSabitaliyevichUYZhenisovnaTGet al. Role of autophagy in breast cancer development and progression: opposite sides of the same coin. Adv Exp Med Biol. (2019) 1152:6573. doi: 10.1007/978–3-030–20301-6_5

  • 153

    PolyakKWeinbergRA. Transitions between epithelial and mesenchymal states: acquisition of Malignant and stem cell traits. Nat Rev Cancer. (2009) 9:265–73. doi: 10.1038/nrc2620

  • 154

    ZeisbergEMPotentaSXieLZeisbergMKalluriR. Discovery of endothelial to mesenchymal transition as a source for carcinoma-associated fibroblasts. Cancer Res. (2007) 67:10123–8. doi: 10.1158/0008–5472.Can-07–3127

  • 155

    AghakhaniSSilva-SaffarSESolimanSNiarakisA. Hybrid computational modeling highlights reverse warburg effect in breast cancer-associated fibroblasts. Comput Struct Biotechnol J. (2023) 21:4196–206. doi: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.08.015

  • 156

    QiaoAGuFGuoXZhangXFuL. Breast cancer-associated fibroblasts: their roles in tumor initiation, progression and clinical applications. Front Med. (2016) 10:3340. doi: 10.1007/s11684–016-0431–5

  • 157

    ComitoGGiannoniEDi GennaroPSeguraCPGerliniGChiarugiP. Stromal fibroblasts synergize with hypoxic oxidative stress to enhance melanoma aggressiveness. Cancer Lett. (2012) 324:3141. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2012.04.025

  • 158

    ToullecAGeraldDDespouyGBourachotBCardonMLefortSet al. Oxidative stress promotes myofibroblast differentiation and tumour spreading. EMBO Mol Med. (2010) 2:211–30. doi: 10.1002/emmm.201000073

  • 159

    MadsenCDPedersenJTVenningFASinghLBMoeendarbaryECharrasGet al. Hypoxia and loss of phd2 inactivate stromal fibroblasts to decrease tumour stiffness and metastasis. EMBO Rep. (2015) 16:1394–408. doi: 10.15252/embr.201540107

  • 160

    WottawaMLeiseringPAhlenMSchnelleMVogelSMalzCet al. Knockdown of prolyl-4-hydroxylase domain 2 inhibits tumor growth of human breast cancer mda-mb-231 cells by affecting tgf-B1 processing. Int J Cancer. (2013) 132:2787–98. doi: 10.1002/ijc.27982

  • 161

    KuchnioADewerchinMCarmelietP. The phd2 oxygen sensor paves the way to metastasis. Oncotarget. (2015) 6:35149–50. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.6216

  • 162

    JuJAGodetIYeICByunJJayatilakaHLeeSJet al. Hypoxia selectively enhances integrin A(5)B(1) receptor expression in breast cancer to promote metastasis. Mol Cancer Res. (2017) 15:723–34. doi: 10.1158/1541–7786.Mcr-16–0338

  • 163

    ChiavarinaBMartinez-OutschoornUEWhitaker-MenezesDHowellATanowitzHBPestellRGet al. Metabolic reprogramming and two-compartment tumor metabolism: opposing role(S) of hif1α and hif2α in tumor-associated fibroblasts and human breast cancer cells. Cell Cycle. (2012) 11:3280–9. doi: 10.4161/cc.21643

  • 164

    MignecoGWhitaker-MenezesDChiavarinaBCastello-CrosRPavlidesSPestellRGet al. Glycolytic cancer associated fibroblasts promote breast cancer tumor growth, without a measurable increase in angiogenesis: evidence for stromal-epithelial metabolic coupling. Cell Cycle. (2010) 9:2412–22. doi: 10.4161/cc.9.12.11989

  • 165

    CostaAScholer-DahirelAMechta-GrigoriouF. The role of reactive oxygen species and metabolism on cancer cells and their microenvironment. Semin Cancer Biol. (2014) 25:2332. doi: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2013.12.007

  • 166

    PrendergastGCMetzRMullerAJ. Towards a genetic definition of cancer-associated inflammation: role of the ido pathway. Am J Pathol. (2010) 176:2082–7. doi: 10.2353/ajpath.2010.091173

  • 167

    WuQYouLNepovimovaEHegerZWuWKucaKet al. Hypoxia-inducible factors: master regulators of hypoxic tumor immune escape. J Hematol Oncol. (2022) 15:77. doi: 10.1186/s13045–022-01292–6

  • 168

    SamantaDParkYNiXLiHZahnowCAGabrielsonEet al. Chemotherapy induces enrichment of cd47(+)/cd73(+)/pdl1(+) immune evasive triple-negative breast cancer cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U.S.A. (2018) 115:E1239–e48. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1718197115

  • 169

    TanakaTKutomiGKajiwaraTKukitaKKochinVKanasekiTet al. Cancer-Associated Oxidoreductase Ero1-A Promotes Immune Escape through up-Regulation of Pd-L1 in Human Breast Cancer. Oncotarget. (2017) 8:24706–18. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.14960

  • 170

    LiCJiangPWeiSXuXWangJ. Regulatory T cells in tumor microenvironment: new mechanisms, potential therapeutic strategies and future prospects. Mol Cancer. (2020) 19:116. doi: 10.1186/s12943–020-01234–1

  • 171

    VignaliDACollisonLWWorkmanCJ. How regulatory T cells work. Nat Rev Immunol. (2008) 8:523–32. doi: 10.1038/nri2343

  • 172

    OshiMAsaokaMTokumaruYAngaritaFAYanLMatsuyamaRet al. Abundance of regulatory T cell (Treg) as a predictive biomarker for neoadjuvant chemotherapy in triple-negative breast cancer. Cancers (Basel). (2020) 12:1–16. doi: 10.3390/cancers12103038

  • 173

    OhueYNishikawaH. Regulatory T (Treg) cells in cancer: can treg cells be a new therapeutic target? Cancer Sci. (2019) 110:2080–9. doi: 10.1111/cas.14069

  • 174

    YanMJeneNByrneDMillarEKO’TooleSAMcNeilCMet al. Recruitment of regulatory T cells is correlated with hypoxia-induced cxcr4 expression, and is associated with poor prognosis in basal-like breast cancers. Breast Cancer Res. (2011) 13:R47. doi: 10.1186/bcr2869

  • 175

    ZhangPLiuGHuJChenSWangBPengPet al. Tenascin-C can serve as an indicator for the immunosuppressive microenvironment of diffuse low-grade gliomas. Front Immunol. (2022) 13:824586. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.824586

  • 176

    ReggianiFBertoliniF. Gm-csf promotes a supportive adipose and lung microenvironment in metastatic breast cancer. Oncoscience. (2017) 4:126–7. doi: 10.18632/oncoscience.371

  • 177

    RyanDSinhaABoganDDaviesJKoziolJElShamyWM. A niche that triggers aggressiveness within brca1-iris overexpressing triple negative tumors is supported by reciprocal interactions with the microenvironment. Oncotarget. (2017) 8:103182–206. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.20892

  • 178

    ChaturvediPGilkesDMTakanoNSemenzaGL. Hypoxia-inducible factor-dependent signaling between triple-negative breast cancer cells and mesenchymal stem cells promotes macrophage recruitment. Proc Natl Acad Sci U.S.A. (2014) 111:E2120–9. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1406655111

  • 179

    SamiEPaulBTKoziolJAElShamyWM. The immunosuppressive microenvironment in brca1-iris-overexpressing tnbc tumors is induced by bidirectional interaction with tumor-associated macrophages. Cancer Res. (2020) 80:1102–17. doi: 10.1158/0008–5472.Can-19–2374

  • 180

    MimeaultMBatraSK. Hypoxia-inducing factors as master regulators of stemness properties and altered metabolism of cancer- and metastasis-initiating cells. J Cell Mol Med. (2013) 17:3054. doi: 10.1111/jcmm.12004

  • 181

    KoppFMendellJT. Functional classification and experimental dissection of long noncoding rnas. Cell. (2018) 172:393407. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2018.01.011

  • 182

    RansohoffJDWeiYKhavariPA. The functions and unique features of long intergenic non-coding rna. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. (2018) 19:143–57. doi: 10.1038/nrm.2017.104

  • 183

    SlackFJChinnaiyanAM. The role of non-coding rnas in oncology. Cell. (2019) 179:1033–55. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2019.10.017

  • 184

    LinHCYehCCChaoLYTsaiMHChenHHChuangEYet al. The hypoxia-responsive lncrna ndrg-ot1 promotes ndrg1 degradation via ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis in breast cancer cells. Oncotarget. (2018) 9:10470–82. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.23732

  • 185

    GeismannCArltA. Coming in the air: hypoxia meets epigenetics in pancreatic cancer. Cells. (2020) 9:1–13. doi: 10.3390/cells9112353

  • 186

    LiuJZhangXChenKChengYLiuSXiaMet al. Ccr7 chemokine receptor-inducible lnc-dpf3 restrains dendritic cell migration by inhibiting hif-1α-mediated glycolysis. Immunity. (2019) 50:60015.e15. doi: 10.1016/j.immuni.2019.01.021

  • 187

    ZhangJDuCZhangLWangYZhangYLiJ. Lncrna linc00649 promotes the growth and metastasis of triple-negative breast cancer by maintaining the stability of hif-1α through the nf90/nf45 complex. Cell Cycle. (2022) 21:1034–47. doi: 10.1080/15384101.2022.2040283

  • 188

    SaatciOKaymakARazaUErsanPGAkbulutOBanisterCEet al. Targeting lysyl oxidase (Lox) overcomes chemotherapy resistance in triple negative breast cancer. Nat Commun. (2020) 11:2416. doi: 10.1038/s41467–020-16199–4

  • 189

    LiuNXiaWYLiuSSChenHYSunLLiuMYet al. Microrna-101 targets von hippel-lindau tumor suppressor (Vhl) to induce hif1α Mediated apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in normoxia condition. Sci Rep. (2016) 6:20489. doi: 10.1038/srep20489

  • 190

    McDonaldESClarkASTchouJZhangPFreedmanGM. Clinical diagnosis and management of breast cancer. J Nucl Med. (2016) 57 Suppl 1:9s16s. doi: 10.2967/jnumed.115.157834

  • 191

    NieCLvHBieLHouHChenX. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha expression correlates with response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in women with breast cancer. Med (Baltimore). (2018) 97:e13551. doi: 10.1097/md.0000000000013551

  • 192

    McAleeseCEChoudhuryCButcherNJMinchinRF. Hypoxia-mediated drug resistance in breast cancers. Cancer Lett. (2021) 502:189–99. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2020.11.045

  • 193

    WangXZhangHChenX. Resistance CDJ癌. Drug Resistance Combating Drug Resistance Cancer. (2019) 2:20. doi: 10.20517/cdr

  • 194

    VaupelPThewsOHoeckelM. Treatment resistance of solid tumors: role of hypoxia and anemia. Med Oncol. (2001) 18:243–59. doi: 10.1385/mo:18:4:243

  • 195

    JingXYangFShaoCWeiKXieMShenHet al. Role of hypoxia in cancer therapy by regulating the tumor microenvironment. Mol Cancer. (2019) 18:157. doi: 10.1186/s12943–019-1089–9

  • 196

    LvYZhaoSHanJZhengLYangZZhaoL. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α Induces multidrug resistance protein in colon cancer. Onco Targets Ther. (2015) 8:1941–8. doi: 10.2147/ott.S82835

  • 197

    YanMWangJRenYLiLHeWZhangYet al. Over-expression of fsip1 promotes breast cancer progression and confers resistance to docetaxel via mrp1 stabilization. Cell Death Dis. (2019) 10:204. doi: 10.1038/s41419–018-1248–8

  • 198

    JendželovskýRJendželovskáZKuchárováBFedoročkoP. Breast cancer resistance protein is the enemy of hypericin accumulation and toxicity of hypericin-mediated photodynamic therapy. BioMed Pharmacother. (2019) 109:2173–81. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.11.084

  • 199

    YangXWangYChenSZhangSCuiC. Cetuximab-modified human serum albumin nanoparticles co-loaded with doxorubicin and mdr1 sirna for the treatment of drug-resistant breast tumors. Int J Nanomedicine. (2021) 16:7051–69. doi: 10.2147/ijn.S332830

  • 200

    ComerfordKMWallaceTJKarhausenJLouisNAMontaltoMCColganSP. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1-dependent regulation of the multidrug resistance (Mdr1) gene. Cancer Res. (2002) 62:3387–94.

  • 201

    TrockBJLeonessaFClarkeR. Multidrug resistance in breast cancer: A meta-analysis of mdr1/gp170 expression and its possible functional significance. J Natl Cancer Inst. (1997) 89:917–31. doi: 10.1093/jnci/89.13.917

  • 202

    RobeyRWPluchinoKMHallMDFojoATBatesSEGottesmanMM. Revisiting the role of abc transporters in multidrug-resistant cancer. Nat Rev Cancer. (2018) 18:452–64. doi: 10.1038/s41568–018-0005–8

  • 203

    SamantaDGilkesDMChaturvediPXiangLSemenzaGL. Hypoxia-inducible factors are required for chemotherapy resistance of breast cancer stem cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U.S.A. (2014) 111:E5429–38. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1421438111

  • 204

    DoublierSBelisarioDCPolimeniMAnnaratoneLRigantiCAlliaEet al. Hif-1 activation induces doxorubicin resistance in mcf7 3-D spheroids via P-glycoprotein expression: A potential model of the chemo-resistance of invasive micropapillary carcinoma of the breast. BMC Cancer. (2012) 12:4. doi: 10.1186/1471–2407-12–4

  • 205

    HeXWangJWeiWShiMXinBZhangTet al. Hypoxia regulates abcg2 activity through the activivation of erk1/2/hif-1α and contributes to chemoresistance in pancreatic cancer cells. Cancer Biol Ther. (2016) 17:188–98. doi: 10.1080/15384047.2016.1139228

  • 206

    KaziAAGilaniRASchechAJChumsriSSabnisGShahPet al. Nonhypoxic regulation and role of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 in aromatase inhibitor resistant breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res. (2014) 16:R15. doi: 10.1186/bcr3609

  • 207

    LeeHJChoiCH. Characterization of sn38-resistant T47d breast cancer cell sublines overexpressing bcrp, mrp1, mrp2, mrp3, and mrp4. BMC Cancer. (2022) 22:446. doi: 10.1186/s12885-022-09446-y

  • 208

    SmithAGMacleodKF. Autophagy, cancer stem cells and drug resistance. J Pathol. (2019) 247:708–18. doi: 10.1002/path.5222

  • 209

    LiXZhouYLiYYangLMaYPengXet al. Autophagy: A novel mechanism of chemoresistance in cancers. BioMed Pharmacother. (2019) 119:109415. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2019.109415

  • 210

    WuMZhangP. Egfr-mediated autophagy in tumourigenesis and therapeutic resistance. Cancer Lett. (2020) 469:207–16. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2019.10.030

  • 211

    YuLShiQJinYLiuZLiJSunW. Blockage of ampk-ulk1 pathway mediated autophagy promotes cell apoptosis to increase doxorubicin sensitivity in breast cancer (Bc) cells: an in vitro study. BMC Cancer. (2021) 21:195. doi: 10.1186/s12885-021-07901-w

  • 212

    PanYShaoDZhaoYZhangFZhengXTanYet al. Berberine reverses hypoxia-induced chemoresistance in breast cancer through the inhibition of ampk- hif-1α. Int J Biol Sci. (2017) 13:794803. doi: 10.7150/ijbs.18969

  • 213

    CookKLShajahanANClarkeR. Autophagy and endocrine resistance in breast cancer. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther. (2011) 11:1283–94. doi: 10.1586/era.11.111

  • 214

    ActisCMuzioGAutelliR. Autophagy triggers tamoxifen resistance in human breast cancer cells by preventing drug-induced lysosomal damage. Cancers (Basel). (2021) 13:1–23. doi: 10.3390/cancers13061252

  • 215

    MarzoINavalJ. Bcl-2 family members as molecular targets in cancer therapy. Biochem Pharmacol. (2008) 76:939–46. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2008.06.009

  • 216

    BashariMHFanFValletSSattlerMArnMLuckner-MindenCet al. Mcl-1 confers protection of her2-positive breast cancer cells to hypoxia: therapeutic implications. Breast Cancer Res. (2016) 18:26. doi: 10.1186/s13058–016-0686–4

  • 217

    SasabeETatemotoYLiDYamamotoTOsakiT. Mechanism of hif-1alpha-dependent suppression of hypoxia-induced apoptosis in squamous cell carcinoma cells. Cancer Sci. (2005) 96:394402. doi: 10.1111/j.1349-7006.2005.00065.x

  • 218

    ChenNChenXHuangRZengHGongJMengWet al. Bcl-xl is a target gene regulated by hypoxia-inducible factor-1{Alpha}. J Biol Chem. (2009) 284:10004–12. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M805997200

  • 219

    LiJShiMCaoYYuanWPangTLiBet al. Knockdown of hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha in breast carcinoma mcf-7 cells results in reduced tumor growth and increased sensitivity to methotrexate. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. (2006) 342:1341–51. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2006.02.094

  • 220

    FlamantLRoegiersEPierreMHayezASterpinCDe BackerOet al. Tmem45a is essential for hypoxia-induced chemoresistance in breast and liver cancer cells. BMC Cancer. (2012) 12:391. doi: 10.1186/1471–2407-12–391

  • 221

    BatlleECleversH. Cancer stem cells revisited. Nat Med. (2017) 23:1124–34. doi: 10.1038/nm.4409

  • 222

    RamanDTiwariAKTiriveedhiVRhoades SterlingJA. Editorial: the role of breast cancer stem cells in clinical outcomes. Front Oncol. (2020) 10:299. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2020.00299

  • 223

    ZhaoJ. Cancer stem cells and chemoresistance: the smartest survives the raid. Pharmacol Ther. (2016) 160:145–58. doi: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2016.02.008

  • 224

    MathieuJZhangZZhouWWangAJHeddlestonJMPinnaCMet al. Hif induces human embryonic stem cell markers in cancer cells. Cancer Res. (2011) 71:4640–52. doi: 10.1158/0008–5472.Can-10–3320

  • 225

    SinghLRoySKumarARastogiSKumarDAnsariMNet al. Repurposing combination therapy of voacamine with vincristine for downregulation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α/fatty acid synthase co-axis and prolyl hydroxylase-2 activation in er+ Mammary neoplasia. Front Cell Dev Biol. (2021) 9:736910. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2021.736910

  • 226

    LeeKZhangHQianDZReySLiuJOSemenzaGL. Acriflavine inhibits hif-1 dimerization, tumor growth, and vascularization. Proc Natl Acad Sci U.S.A. (2009) 106:17910–5. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0909353106

  • 227

    LiSHShinDHChunYSLeeMKKimMSParkJW. A novel mode of action of yc-1 in hif inhibition: stimulation of fih-dependent P300 dissociation from hif-1{Alpha}. Mol Cancer Ther. (2008) 7:3729–38. doi: 10.1158/1535–7163.Mct-08–0074

  • 228

    ShinDHChunYSLeeDSHuangLEParkJW. Bortezomib inhibits tumor adaptation to hypoxia by stimulating the fih-mediated repression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1. Blood. (2008) 111:3131–6. doi: 10.1182/blood-2007–11-120576

  • 229

    LiZYouQZhangX. Small-molecule modulators of the hypoxia-inducible factor pathway: development and therapeutic applications. J Med Chem. (2019) 62:5725–49. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b01596

  • 230

    YuTTangBSunX. Development of inhibitors targeting hypoxia-inducible factor 1 and 2 for cancer therapy. Yonsei Med J. (2017) 58:489–96. doi: 10.3349/ymj.2017.58.3.489

  • 231

    NaritaTYinSGelinCFMorenoCSYepesMNicolaouKCet al. Identification of a novel small molecule hif-1alpha translation inhibitor. Clin Cancer Res. (2009) 15:6128–36. doi: 10.1158/1078–0432.Ccr-08–3180

  • 232

    LeeDHLeeYJ. Quercetin suppresses hypoxia-induced accumulation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (Hif-1alpha) through inhibiting protein synthesis. J Cell Biochem. (2008) 105:546–53. doi: 10.1002/jcb.21851

  • 233

    LangLLiuXLiYZhouQXiePYanCet al. A synthetic manassantin a derivative inhibits hypoxia-inducible factor 1 and tumor growth. PloS One. (2014) 9:e99584. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0099584

  • 234

    TerzuoliEPuppoMRapisardaAUranchimegBCaoLBurgerAMet al. Aminoflavone, a ligand of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor, inhibits hif-1alpha expression in an ahr-independent fashion. Cancer Res. (2010) 70:6837–48. doi: 10.1158/0008–5472.Can-10–1075

  • 235

    LiGShaoYPanYLiYWangYWangLet al. Total synthesis and biological evaluation of 7-hydroxyneolamellarin a as hypoxia-inducible factor-1α Inhibitor for cancer therapy. Bioorg Med Chem Lett. (2021) 50:128338. doi: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2021.128338

  • 236

    LiuYVeenaCKMorganJBMohammedKAJekabsonsMBNagleDGet al. Methylalpinumisoflavone inhibits hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (Hif-1) activation by simultaneously targeting multiple pathways. J Biol Chem. (2009) 284:5859–68. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M806744200

  • 237

    ParhiraSZhuGYChenMBaiLPJiangZH. Cardenolides from calotropis gigantea as potent inhibitors of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 transcriptional activity. J Ethnopharmacol. (2016) 194:930–6. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2016.10.070

  • 238

    WelshSWilliamsRKirkpatrickLPaine-MurrietaGPowisG. Antitumor activity and pharmacodynamic properties of px-478, an inhibitor of hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha. Mol Cancer Ther. (2004) 3:233–44. doi: 10.1158/1535-7163.233.3.3

  • 239

    JonesDTHarrisAL. Identification of novel small-molecule inhibitors of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 transactivation and DNA binding. Mol Cancer Ther. (2006) 5:2193–202. doi: 10.1158/1535–7163.Mct-05–0443

  • 240

    WangKLHsiaSMChanCJChangFYHuangCYBauDTet al. Inhibitory effects of isoliquiritigenin on the migration and invasion of human breast cancer cells. Expert Opin Ther Targets. (2013) 17:337–49. doi: 10.1517/14728222.2013.756869

  • 241

    JinJQiuSWangPLiangXHuangFWuHet al. Cardamonin inhibits breast cancer growth by repressing hif-1α-dependent metabolic reprogramming. J Exp Clin Cancer Res. (2019) 38:377. doi: 10.1186/s13046–019-1351–4

  • 242

    BaileyCMLiuYPengGZhangHHeMSunDet al. Liposomal formulation of hif-1α Inhibitor echinomycin eliminates established metastases of triple-negative breast cancer. Nanomedicine. (2020) 29:102278. doi: 10.1016/j.nano.2020.102278

  • 243

    Mir HassaniZNabiuniMParivarKAbdiradSKarimzadehL. Melittin inhibits the expression of key genes involved in tumor microenvironment formation by suppressing hif-1α Signaling in breast cancer cells. Med Oncol. (2021) 38:77. doi: 10.1007/s12032–021-01526–6

  • 244

    WangTMengJWangCWenTJiaMGeYet al. Inhibition of murine breast cancer metastases by hydrophilic as(4)S(4) nanoparticles is associated with decreased ros and hif-1α Downregulation. Front Oncol. (2019) 9:333. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2019.00333

  • 245

    SuQWangJWuQUllahAGhauriMASarwarAet al. Sanguinarine combats hypoxia-induced activation of ephb4 and hif-1α Pathways in breast cancer. Phytomedicine. (2021) 84:153503. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2021.153503

  • 246

    XiangLGilkesDMChaturvediPLuoWHuHTakanoNet al. Ganetespib blocks hif-1 activity and inhibits tumor growth, vascularization, stem cell maintenance, invasion, and metastasis in orthotopic mouse models of triple-negative breast cancer. J Mol Med (Berl). (2014) 92:151–64. doi: 10.1007/s00109–013-1102–5

  • 247

    WongCCZhangHGilkesDMChenJWeiHChaturvediPet al. Inhibitors of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 block breast cancer metastatic niche formation and lung metastasis. J Mol Med (Berl). (2012) 90:803–15. doi: 10.1007/s00109-011-0855-y

  • 248

    WeiZShanYTaoLLiuYZhuZLiuZet al. Diallyl trisulfides, a natural histone deacetylase inhibitor, attenuate hif-1α Synthesis, and decreases breast cancer metastasis. Mol Carcinog. (2017) 56:2317–31. doi: 10.1002/mc.22686

  • 249

    Kachamakova-TrojanowskaNPodkalickaPBogaczTBarwaczSJózkowiczADulakJet al. Hif-1 stabilization exerts anticancer effects in breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Biochem Pharmacol. (2020) 175:113922. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2020.113922

  • 250

    LiuMLiangYZhuZWangJChengXChengJet al. Discovery of novel aryl carboxamide derivatives as hypoxia-inducible factor 1α Signaling inhibitors with potent activities of anticancer metastasis. J Med Chem. (2019) 62:9299–314. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b01313

  • 251

    Holmquist-MengelbierLFredlundELöfstedtTNogueraRNavarroSNilssonHet al. Recruitment of hif-1alpha and hif-2alpha to common target genes is differentially regulated in neuroblastoma: hif-2alpha promotes an aggressive phenotype. Cancer Cell. (2006) 10:413–23. doi: 10.1016/j.ccr.2006.08.026

  • 252

    BardiaASanta-MariaCAJacobsLKCimino-MathewsA. Digoxin as an inhibitor of global hypoxia inducible factor-1α (Hif1α) expression and downstream targets in breast cancer: dig-hif1 pharmacodynamic trial. (2013) 31(15_suppl):TPS1144–TPS. Stearns VJJoCO. J Clin Oncol. doi: 10.1200/jco.2013.31.15_suppl.tps1144

  • 253

    BaneALWhelanTJPondGRParpiaSGohlaGFylesAWet al. Tumor factors predictive of response to hypofractionated radiotherapy in a randomized trial following breast conserving therapy. Ann Oncol. (2014) 25:992–8. doi: 10.1093/annonc/mdu090

Summary

Keywords

breast cancer, hypoxia-inducible factor, angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis, apoptosis and autophagy, drug resistance

Citation

Zhi S, Chen C, Huang H, Zhang Z, Zeng F and Zhang S (2024) Hypoxia-inducible factor in breast cancer: role and target for breast cancer treatment. Front. Immunol. 15:1370800. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1370800

Received

15 January 2024

Accepted

26 April 2024

Published

10 May 2024

Volume

15 - 2024

Edited by

Ying Lin, Sun Yat-Sen University, China

Reviewed by

Daniele Vergara, University of Salento, Italy

Subhadeep Roy, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, India

Abhishek Basu, National Institutes of Health (NIH), United States

Updates

Copyright

*Correspondence: Shujun Zhang, ; Fancai Zeng,

Disclaimer

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Outline

Figures

Cite article

Copy to clipboard


Export citation file


Share article

Article metrics