Clinical Implications of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1α Expression in Bladder Cancer

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Biochemistry division, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, Egypt

2 Oncology Center, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt

3 Urology and Nephrology center, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt

Abstract

Abstract: Aim: Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) is a central regulator of tumor biology, enabling bladder cancer cells to adapt under oxygen-deprived conditions. This study intended to assess the clinical significance of HIF-1α expression in bladder cancer (BC) and its correlation with key pathological parameters. Methods: Blood was obtained from 110 cases diagnosed with BC and from 110 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers who served as controls. HIF-1α mRNA expression was quantified using real-time PCR. Results: Histological evaluation revealed that the majority of cases (95.5%) were urothelial carcinoma, while 4.5% were squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Elevated HIF-1α transcript levels were considerably linked to the SCC subtype (p = 0.04). ROC curve analysis demonstrated that HIF-1α could reliably distinguish BC patients from controls (AUC = 0.998, p < 0.001) at a threshold value of 1.5. Conclusions: The data underscore the importance of HIF-1α overexpression in BC progression. Its increased expression was linked to unfavorable clinicopathological traits, highlighting its potential as a prognostic indicator. Owing to its involvement in angiogenesis, metabolic alterations, and treatment resistance, HIF-1α may represent an attractive therapeutic target. Nevertheless, validation in large, prospective cohorts is required to clarify its prognostic and predictive value and to establish the clinical utility of HIF-1α–targeted interventions in BC management.

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Mansoura Journal of Chemistry
Volume 68, Issue 4
December 2025
Pages 25-31

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