Molecular understanding for therapeutic targeting of hypoxia in breast cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Breast cancer is one of the most widespread types of cancer, affecting millions of patients worldwide and although significant advances in its therapy have been achieved in the last decades, a large number of death still occur. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the subtype associated with aggressive behavior, early metastasis, and limited therapeutic options, resulting in poor clinical outcomes for many affected patients. Many such tumors are frequently hypoxic.

AREAS COVERED: Hypoxia is a hallmark of solid tumors, including breast cancers. Molecular events triggered by hypoxia are orchestrated by hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs), which regulate transcription of genes involved in cell survival, invasion, angiogenesis, and resistance to chemo- and radio-therapy. Apart HIF itself, other potential molecular targets such as prolyl-hydroxylases (PHD), von Hippel-Lindau protein (VHL), monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs), Na+/H+ exchangers (NHEs), vacuolar ATPases (V-ATPase), anion exchangers (AEs), Na+ /HCO3- co-transporters (NBCs), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and carbonic anhydrases were identified as being involved in tumorigenesis.

EXPERT OPINION: HIF-1α inhibitors (topotecan, digoxin, PX-478), hypoxia-activated prodrugs (evofosfamide, apaziquone, porfiromycin, tirapazamine, banoxantrone) and carbonic anhydrase IX/XII inhibitors (SLC-0111) are either used clinically or in clinical development for the management of hypoxic breast cancers.