The role of hypoxia inducible factor-1 in cell metabolism – a possible target in cancer therapy

In many cancer types, intratumoural hypoxia is linked to increased expression and activity of the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1alpha), which is associated with poor patient prognosis. This increased the interest in HIF-1alpha as a cancer drug target. Further, HIF-1alpha has also a central role in the adaptive cellular programme responding to hypoxia in normal tissues. Many of the HIF-1alpha-regulated genes encode enzymes of metabolic pathways. Therefore, studying the link and the feedback mechanisms between metabolism and HIF-1alpha is of major importance to find new and specific therapeutic strategies.