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Tumour cells exploit both genetic and adaptive means to survive and proliferate in hypoxic microenvironments, resulting in the outgrowth of more aggressive tumour cell clones. Direct measurements of tumour oxygenation, and surrogate markers of the hypoxic response in tumours (for instance, hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha, carbonic anhydrase 9 and glucose transporter-1) are well-established prognostic markers in solid cancers. However, individual markers do not fully capture the complex, dynamic and heterogeneous hypoxic response in cancer. To overcome this, expression profiling has been employed to identify hypoxia signatures in cohorts or models of human cancer. Several of these hypoxia signatures have demonstrated prognostic significance in independent cancer datasets. Nevertheless, individual hypoxia markers have been shown to predict the benefit from hypoxia-modifying or anti-angiogenic therapies. This review aims to discuss the clinical impact of translational work on hypoxia markers and to explore future directions for research in this area.

Original publication

DOI

10.1111/j.1582-4934.2009.00944.x

Type

Journal article

Journal

J Cell Mol Med

Publication Date

01/2010

Volume

14

Pages

18 - 29

Keywords

Biomarkers, Tumor, Carbonic Anhydrases, Cell Hypoxia, Gene Expression Profiling, Humans, Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit, Kaplan-Meier Estimate, MicroRNAs, Necrosis, Neoplasms, Prognosis, Treatment Outcome