HIF-1α promotes gastric cancer chemoresistance via modulation of p53 and NF-κB

Introduction: Reduced chemosensitivity of solid cancer cells represents a pivotal obstacle in clinical oncology. Hence, the molecular characterization of pathways regulating chemosensitivity is a central prerequisite to improve cancer therapy. The hypoxia-inducible factor HIF-1α has been linked to chemosensitivity while the underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely elusive. Therefore, we comprehensively analysed HIF-1α's role in determining chemosensitivity focussing on responsible molecular pathways. Methods: RNA interference was applied to inactivate HIF-1α or p53 in the human gastric cancer cell lines AG…