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Updated: Jul 4, 2026

Induction and Testing of Hypoxia in Cell Culture
Published on: August 12, 2011
Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 and cancer pathogenesis
1Vascular Program, Institute for Cell Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. gsemenza@jhmi.edu
Abstract:
Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) is a transcriptional activator that mediates adaptive responses to hypoxia. HIF-1 activity is increased in the majority of human cancers as a result of genetic alterations and intratumoral hypoxia. HIF-1 activates the transcription of genes that increase O(2) availability by stimulating angiogenesis or that reprogram cellular metabolism to adapt to reduced O(2) availability. Proof of principle studies in mouse models suggests that inhibition of HIF-1 activity may have therapeutic effects, especially in combination with other anticancer drugs.
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