Cancer Management and Research (Nov 2019)
Downregulation of Proline Hydroxylase 2 and Upregulation of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1α are Associated with Endometrial Cancer Aggressiveness
Abstract
Chengcheng Zhu,1 Huafeng Ding,1 Junwen Yang,1 Yihui Zhou,1 Yonghong Luo,1 Suhua Shi,1 Ying Zhang,1 Yalan Wei,2 Guantai Ni1 1Departments of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Yi Jishan General Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, Anhui, People’s Republic of China; 2Departments of Gynecology and Obstetrics, General Hospital of Wuhu Second People’s Hospital, Wuhu, Anhui, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Guantai Ni; Yalan WeiDepartments of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Yi Jishan General Hospital of Wannan Medical College, 2 Zheshan West Road, Wuhu, Anhui 241000, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86-138 5532 0259Email [email protected]; [email protected]: Proline hydroxylase 2 (PHD2) is involved in tumorigenesis. This study aimed to examine PHD2 and hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) expression in different endometrial tissues and explore the correlations between PHD2 and HIF-1α expression with clinicopathological characteristics of endometrial cancer.Methods: We collected 50 tissue sections of endometrial adenocarcinoma, 30 of atypical endometrial hyperplasia, and 30 of control normal endometrium. The expression of PHD2 was detected by PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemical analysis.Results: PHD2 mRNA and protein levels reduced in endometrial cancer tissues compared to normal endometrium (p<0.05). In contrast, HIF-1α expression levels increased in endometrial cancer tissues compared to normal endometrium (p<0.05). In addition, PHD2 and HIF-1α levels were correlated with lymphovascular stromal invasion (LVSI), postoperative FIGO stage, and lymph node metastasis of endometrial cancer (p<0.05).Conclusion: Our findings suggest that reduced expression of PHD2 and increased expression of HIF-1α are associated with endometrial cancer aggressiveness. PHD2 might be a novel biomarker and a potential target for endometrial cancer management.Keywords: proline hydroxylase, hypoxia-inducible factor, endometrial cancer, prognosis