In vivo functional dissection of a context-dependent role for Hif1? in pancreatic tumorigenesis.

Hypoxia-inducible factor 1? (Hif1?) is a key regulator of cellular adaptation and survival under hypoxic conditions. In pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), it has been recently shown that genetic ablation of Hif1? accelerates tumour development by promoting tumour-supportive inflammation in mice, questioning its role as the key downstream target of many oncogenic signals of PDAC. Likely, Hif1? has a context-dependent role in pancreatic tumorigenesis. To further analyse this, murine PDAC cell lines with reduced Hif1? expression were generated using shRNA transfection. Cells were transplanted into wild-type mice through orthotopic or portal vein injection in order to test the in vivo function of Hif1? in two major tumour-associated biological scenarios: primary tumour growth and remote colonization/metastasis. Although Hif1? protects PDAC cells from stress-induced cell deaths in both scenarios-in line with the general function Hif1?-its depletion leads to different oncogenic consequences. Hif1? depletion results in rapid tumour growth with marked hypoxia-induced cell death, which potentially leads to a persistent tumour-sustaining inflammatory response. However, it simultaneously reduces tumour colonization and hepatic metastases by increasing the susceptibility to anoikis induced by anchorage-independent conditions. Taken together, the role of Hif1? in pancreatic tumorigenesis is context-dependent. Clinical trials of Hif1? inhibitors need to take this into account, targeting the appropriate scenario, for example palliative vs adjuvant therapy.     «

Hypoxia-inducible factor 1? (Hif1?) is a key regulator of cellular adaptation and survival under hypoxic conditions. In pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), it has been recently shown that genetic ablation of Hif1? accelerates tumour development by promoting tumour-supportive inflammation in mice, questioning its role as the key downstream target of many oncogenic signals of PDAC. Likely, Hif1? has a context-dependent role in pancreatic tumorigenesis. To further analyse this, murine PDAC cel...     »