The detection of hypoxia markers in non-HPV and HPV-associated head and neck cancers: implications to patient survival

Abstract

In the microenvironment of growing solid tumors, oxygen level often decreases and a hypoxic state is induced. This can lead to a worse treatment response and poor patient prognosis. One of the hypoxia-responsive genes is aspartate-β-hydroxylase(ASPH), whose activity promotes the growth, invasiveness, and metastasis of many solid tumors1. Head and neck cancers (HNC) are highly heterogeneous. A proportion of HNC is induced by high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infections and is associated with better patient outcomes compared to patients with tumors linked to tobacco and alcohol abuse.