HIF-1α is essential for inflammation-associated colon carcinogenesis

Introduction: A substantial amount of cancer entities is driven by inflammation, e.g. liver and gastric cancer. Chronic inflammation might also represent a key factor in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer (CRC), as evidenced by the inhibiting effect of anti-inflammatory drugs on CRC progression. Despite the intriguing interrelation of chronic inflammation and cancer, its molecular nature remains largely elusive. The transcription factor HIF-1α is upregulated in most human cancers and controls central pro-tumorigenic pathways such as glycolysis, angiogenesis and therapy resistance. To achieve a comprehensive c…