Nuclear Localization of Factor Inhibitor Hypoxia-Inducible Factor in Prostate Cancer Is Associated With Poor Prognosis

Purpose: We determined the role of factor inhibiting hypoxia-inducible factor-1 in prostate cancer specimens. Materials and Methods: A tissue microarray of 152 prostate cancers was constructed and stained for factor inhibiting hypoxia-inducible factor-1, hypoxiainducible factor-1 alpha and 2 alpha, and glucose transporter 1 as a prototypical downstream target of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha. Correlation analysis was done between these variables, and between factor inhibiting hypoxia-inducible factor-1, and clinical and pathological variables, including prostate specific antigen as a surrogate of recurrence. Results: Factor inhibiting hypoxia-inducible factor-1 was expressed in the cytoplasm and/or the nucleus in 86.5% of tumors, including exclusive cytoplasmic expression in 51.3% and exclusive nuclear expression in 5.3%. Any nuclear and exclusive expression of factor inhibiting hypoxia-inducible factor was associated with poor prognosis on univariate analysis (p = 0.007 and 0.042, respectively). On multivariate analysis men with nuclear expression in tumors were twice as likely to experience recurrence (p = 0.034). Conclusions: Factor inhibiting hypoxia-inducible factor-1 is widely expressed in prostate tumors. Its differential subcellular expression suggests that regulation of its expression is an important factor in the activity of the hypoxia-inducible factor pathway. Its modulation may help treat hypoxia-inducible factor driven aggressive prostate cancer.