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Expression of HIF-2a in clear-cell renal cell carcinoma independently predicts overall survival

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Abstract

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the expression and the prognostic role of main factors, involved in the hypoxia pathway, in patients with clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Immunohistochemical expression of Hypoxia inducible factors (HIF) HIF-1a, HIF-2a, prolyl hydroxylases PHD1, PHD2, PHD3, and factor inhibiting HIF (FIH) was assessed on a tissue microarray, containing tumour and corresponding normal kidney tissue from 66 patients underwent surgery for ccRCC. Expression levels were evaluated in relation to T stage, Fuhrman grade, cancer-specific, and overall survival (OS). Cytoplasmatic expression of HIF-2a was positively correlated with expression of HIF-1a (p = 0.011). HIF-1a expression was also positively correlated with PHD3 and FIH (p = 0.020 and p = 0.039). Expression of HIF-1a was associated with lower Fuhrman grade (p = 0.008), while HIF-2a overexpression with unfavourable grade (p = 0.026). PHD3 was significant downregulated (84.8%). Age, LDH, presence of necrosis, Fuhrman grade, T stage, and HIF-2a cytoplasmatic expression were significant associated with OS of patients in univariable analysis. In multivariable analysis, HIF-2a expression (p = 0.006) and T stage (p = 0.001) remained as the only independent predictors for overall survival. These results indicate that HIF-2a overexpression not only is inversely correlated with Fuhrman grade in ccRCC, but also represents a strong independent prognostic factor for a poor overall survival.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1st Urologic Department, Gennimatas General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Konstantinos Gkagkalidis, Spyridon Kampantais & Georgios Dimitriadis

  2. Saint Luke’s Private Hospital of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Spyridon Kampantais

  3. “Victoras Gourvas” Private Pathology Laboratory, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Victoras Gourvas

  4. Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Dorothea Kapoukranidou

  5. A’ Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Konstantinos Gkagkalidis & Maria Mironidou-Tzouveleki

  6. Private Urological Center, 40 Ekklision 3A, 67100, Xanthi, Greece

    Konstantinos Gkagkalidis

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  1. Konstantinos Gkagkalidis
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Gkagkalidis, K., Kampantais, S., Dimitriadis, G. et al. Expression of HIF-2a in clear-cell renal cell carcinoma independently predicts overall survival. Med Mol Morphol 53, 229–237 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00795-020-00249-3

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