Immunohistochemical Expression of Aldehyde Dehydrogenase-1 and Hypoxia- Inducible Factor-1 alpha in Breast Cancer

Aim of the work: To evaluate the expression of ALDH-1 and HIF-1 alpha in primary breast cancer and their relation to clinicopathological parameters using immunohistochemical methods. Material and Methods: Fifty paraffin blocks of primary breast cancer immunostained by ALDH-1 and HIF-1 alpha immunohistochemical markers. Results: Increasing expression of HIF-1 alpha was positively associated with nodal metastasis and histological grade, P value =0.001 and 0.036 respectively. There was a significant negative association between ALDH-1 expression and ER and PR expression, P value = 0.002 and 0.004 respectively. Also, there was a significant negative association between HIF-1 alpha expression and ER and PR expression, P value =0.029 and 0.018 respectively. Conclusions: An association was found between ALDH-1 expression and HIF-1 alpha expression in breast carcinomas. Their negative association to hormonal (estrogen and progesterone) receptors suggests that they might play an important role in drug resistance, and may be used as prognostic markers.