Cancer & HIF-1

“Radiation and chemotherapy do kill most solid tumor cells, but in the cells that survive, the therapies drive an increase in HIF-1, which cells use to get the oxygen they need by increasing blood vessel growth into the tumor. Solid tumors generally have low supplies of oxygen and HIF-1 helps them get the oxygen they need,” explains Dr. Mark W. Dewhirst, professor of radiation oncology at Duke University Medical Center.

Dr. Holger K. Eltzschig, a professor of anesthesiology, medicine, cell biology and immunology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, says, “Understanding how hypoxia is linked to inflammation may help save lives. By focusing on the molecular pathways the body uses to battle hypoxia, we may be able help patients who undergo organ transplants, who suffer from infections or who have cancer.”

Researchers found that an increase of 1.2 metabolic units (oxygen consumption) was related to a decreased risk of cancer death, especially in lung and gastrointestinal cancers.[1]

In order for cancer to “establish” a foothold in the body it has to be deprived of oxygen and become acidic. If these two conditions can be reversed cancer not only can be slowed down,  can be reversed.

Drs. D. F. Treacher and R. M. Leach write, “Prevention, early identification, and correction of tissue hypoxia are essential skills. If oxygen supply fails, even for a few minutes, tissue hypoxaemia may develop resulting in anaerobic metabolism and production of lactate.”[2]

[1]               http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/159225.php

[2] BMJ. 1998 November 7; 317(7168): 1302–1306