Linking hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α and HIF-2α expression in head and neck cancer

Hypoxic conditions often occur in solid tumors like those of the head and neck area, thus enhancing tumor evolution while causing both therapeutic resistance and worsening clinical outcomes. Therefore, it is of interest to evaluate the expression of HIF-1α and HIF-2α proteins to correlate with clinical outcomes in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Hence, 80 patients with HNSCC participated in this study. The laboratory analysis of tumor tissue, conducted through immunohistochemistry, revealed the expression levels of HIF-1α and HIF-2α. The examined tissues were categorized into low, moderate, and high expression categories based on immunoreactivity scoring. The clinical outcomes of head and neck cancer patients become worse when producers of HIF-1α and HIF-2α elevate in their tumors.