HIF‑1α promotes the stemness of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma by activating the Wnt/β‑catenin pathway

Lv,Zhuan; Liu,Rui‑Dong; Chen,Xiao‑Qi; Wang,Bing; Li,Li‑Feng; Guo,Ying‑Shu; Chen,Xin‑Ju; Ren,Xian‑Qing

doi:10.3892/or.2019.7203

HIF‑1α promotes the stemness of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma by activating the Wnt/β‑catenin pathway

Authors:
- Zhuan Lv
- Rui‑Dong Liu
- Xiao‑Qi Chen
- Bing Wang
- Li‑Feng Li
- Ying‑Shu Guo
- Xin‑Ju Chen
- Xian‑Qing Ren
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Affiliations: Department of Hospital Administration, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan 450000, P.R. China, Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan 450000, P.R. China, Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan 450000, P.R. China, Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan 450000, P.R. China, Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450000, P.R. China
Published online on: June 18, 2019 https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2019.7203
Pages: 726-734

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Abstract

Hypoxia‑inducible‑factor 1α (HIF‑1α) is a marker for poor prognosis in the majority of the cancer types, and it has been revealed to be essential for maintaining cancer stem cells (CSCs). In the present study, it was determined that the expression of HIF‑1α and CSC‑related genes under hypoxic conditions was upregulated. Stable knockdown of HIF‑1α significantly inhibited cell proliferation, migration and tumour growth in vivo in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). A previous study revealed that the Wnt/β‑catenin pathway may play a key role in maintenance and progression of CSCs. Therefore, it was also revealed that stable knockdown of HIF‑1α reduced the formation of spheroid body cells, the expression of CSC‑related genes and Wnt/β‑catenin pathway‑related target genes, as well as the activity of the Wnt/β‑catenin pathway. Collectively, the present results indicated that HIF‑1α may regulate the stemness of ESCC by activating the Wnt/β‑catenin pathway.

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