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Updated: Jan 4, 2026
Tumor Hypoxia Assessment: In Vivo 3D Oxygen Imaging Through Electron Paramagnetic Resonance
Published on: February 14, 2025
Role of hypoxia in cancer therapy by regulating the tumor microenvironment
Xinming Jing1,2, Fengming Yang1,2, Chuchu Shao1,2
1Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Sir Run Run Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
Aim:
Clinical resistance is a complex phenomenon in major human cancers involving multifactorial mechanisms, and hypoxia is one of the key components that affect the cellular expression program and lead to therapy resistance. The present study aimed to summarize the role of hypoxia in cancer therapy by regulating the tumor microenvironment (TME) and to highlight the potential of hypoxia-targeted therapy.
Methods:
Relevant published studies were retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase using keywords such as hypoxia, cancer therapy, resistance, TME, cancer, apoptosis, DNA damage, autophagy, p53, and other similar terms.
Results:
Recent studies have shown that hypoxia is associated with poor prognosis in patients by regulating the TME. It confers resistance to conventional therapies through a number of signaling pathways in apoptosis, autophagy, DNA damage, mitochondrial activity, p53, and drug efflux.
Conclusion:
Hypoxia targeting might be relevant to overcome hypoxia-associated resistance in cancer treatment.
Insights
Hypoxia, a state of low oxygen, drives cancer therapy resistance by altering the tumor microenvironment. Targeting hypoxia offers a promising strategy to improve cancer treatment outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Clinical resistance in major human cancers is multifactorial.
- Hypoxia significantly influences cellular programs and contributes to therapy resistance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of hypoxia in regulating the tumor microenvironment (TME).
- To highlight the potential of hypoxia-targeted therapies for overcoming cancer resistance.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature search across PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase.
- Keywords included hypoxia, cancer therapy, resistance, TME, apoptosis, DNA damage, autophagy, and p53.
Main Results:
- Hypoxia is linked to poor patient prognosis via TME regulation.
- Hypoxia induces resistance to conventional therapies through pathways affecting apoptosis, autophagy, DNA damage, and drug efflux.
Conclusions:
- Targeting hypoxia is a potential therapeutic approach.
- Hypoxia-targeted strategies may overcome resistance in cancer treatment.
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