Background
- The HIF pathway drives RCC pathogenesis operating through transcription factors (TFs).
- TFs function as heterodimers of the oxygen-sensitive α (HIF1α or HIF2α) and constitutively expressed β subunits (HIF1β or HIF2β).
- Loss of VHL leads to HIFα stabilization, nuclear translocation, and formation of transcriptional complexes with β subunits.
- We aimed to characterize the molecular and clinical features associated of HIF TF mRNA expression in RCC:
- Evaluate HIF TF expression levels across racial/ethnic groups, primary/metastatic tumors and different RCC histology.
- Investigate the association between HIF TF expression and co-occurring alterations in genes frequently mutated in RCC.
- Assess the relationship between HIF TF expression and overall survival.
- Determine the potential of HIF TF expression as a predictive biomarker for benefit to VEGF TKIs.