Expression of HIF-1alpha and Glut-1 in human bladder cancer.

HIF-1 is a heterodimer consisting of the HIF-1alpha and HIF-1beta subunits, and HIF-1alpha is the unique oxygen regulated subunit that determines HIF-1 activity. HIF-1alpha upgrades many gene products which include the glucose transporter protein 1 (Glut-1). Immunohistochemical studies using a monoclonal antibody specific for HIF-1alpha indicate that the overexpression of HIF-1alpha occurs in the most common forms of human cancer, including bladder cancer. The expression of Glut-1 in human bladder cancer is associated with poor prognosis and a low survival rate. To our knowledge, this is the first study to compare the expression of both HIF-1alpha and Glut-1 with clinicopathological characteristics in superficial and invasive human bladder cancer (all invasive bladder cancer patients received radical radiotherapy). The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis curve shows a significant association of HIF-1alpha expression with recurrence and survival in superficial bladder cancer and shows a significant association of Glut-1 with survival in invasive bladder cancer [chi2 (4)=10.52; Pr >chi2 =0.0012].