HIF-1A, pimonidazole, and iododeoxyuridine to estimate hypoxia and perfusion in human head-and-neck tumors.

Purpose: Tumor hypoxia measured by microelectrodes has been shown to indicate poor patient outcome. Here we investigated four potentially more widely applicable immunohistochemical parameters of tumor oxygenation and perfusion in human head-and-neck tumors.

Methods: Twenty patients with squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck treated with primary surgery were injected with pimonidazole and IdUrd the evening before operation.