Targeting NF-κB and HIF-1 pathways for the treatment of cancer: part II.

Hypoxia that originates from disturbed growth of solid tumors initiates a cascade of intracellular events engaging hypoxia-inducible factors, HIF-1 and HIF-2. Overexpression of HIF has been confirmed in solid tumors and was unfortunately accompanied with chemo- and radioresistance observed in many patients. Multiple cellular pathways resulting in HIF activation could be successfully inhibited by use of different kinds of drugs (e.g. topotecan, heat shock protein 90 and mTOR inhibitors, YC-1, pleurotin or 2-methoxyestradiol), which are being subjected into intensive investigation in clinical trials.