While it may appear that tumors deprived of oxygen will shrink, researchers at the University of Colorado Cancer Center have conducted several studies indicating that tumor hypoxia is linked to more aggressive tumors and poorer prognosis. According to Dr. Dan Theodorescu, director of the University of Colorado Cancer Center and lead researcher in this study, protein HIF-1a along with cancer stem cell marker CD24 is overexpressed in tumors. As a result, "rather than succumbing to gently hypoxic conditions, the lack of oxygen commonly created as a tumor outgrows its blood supply signals a tumor to grow and metastasize in search of new oxygen sources."
To read more about this study, as well as other features in the October 2012 issue of Artemis, the Breast Cancer Newsletter, click here.
Study mentioned: Thomas S et al. CD24 is an effector of HIF-1 driven primary tumor growth and metastasis. Cancer Res. 2012 Aug 27. [Epub ahead of print]. PMID 22926560
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