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Copyright © 2025, Thangjam et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License CC-BY 4.0., which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

Abstract

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), a malignant neoplasm of the oral cavity, is commonly observed in the northeastern region of India, likely due to dietary habits, the prevalence of infections, and possibly genetic predisposition. Hypoxia plays a crucial role in regulating tumor proliferation and survival. In the absence of sufficient oxygen, several mechanisms and factors become instrumental in driving tumorigenesis. One such factor is hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α), a key transcription factor from the inducible factor family that regulates gene expression in response to reduced cellular oxygen levels. Despite its significance, studies investigating HIF-1α overexpression in OSCC remain limited, and only a few have explored its correlation with clinical and pathological parameters. This study involved a retrospective analysis of histopathologically confirmed OSCC cases from resected oral specimens collected over a four-year period (2020-2024). HIF-1α overexpression was evaluated in relation to clinical variables such as age and sex and pathological features including histological grade, stage, depth of invasion (DOI), tumor size, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, and worst pattern of invasion. A statistically significant association was observed between HIF-1α overexpression and both higher tumor stage and greater DOI, supporting its link to more aggressive disease behavior. Given the complexity of OSCC, identifying markers that may serve as therapeutic targets is of critical importance. HIF-1α emerges as one such marker - its presence not only indicates a more aggressive tumor phenotype but also suggests potential for future targeted therapies.

Details

Title
Immunohistochemical Expression of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1 Alpha in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Author
Thangjam Narmy 1 ; Evarisalin, Marbaniang 1 ; Dey Biswajit 1 ; Harris, Caleb 2 ; Donboklang, Lynser 3 ; Kalita Pranjal 1 

 Pathology, North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health & Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS), Shillong, IND 
 Surgical Oncology, North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health & Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS), Shillong, IND 
 Radiology, North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health & Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS), Shillong, IND 
University/institution
U.S. National Institutes of Health/National Library of Medicine
Publication year
2025
Publication date
2025
Publisher
Springer Nature B.V.
e-ISSN
21688184
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
3225676562
Copyright
Copyright © 2025, Thangjam et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License CC-BY 4.0., which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.