Inhibition of hypoxia inducible factor 1alpha causes oxygen-independent cytotoxicity and induces p53 independent apoptosis in glioblastoma cells.

Purpose: Hypoxia, which activates the hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1alpha) pathway, is a common feature in malignant gliomas and has been linked with tumor cell survival and therapy resistance. In this study, we examined the effect of antisense inhibition of HIF-1alpha on the survival, apoptosis and responses to chemotherapy in U-87 malignant glioma cells.

Materials And Methods: Hypoxia (1% oxygen) was achieved in a tri-gas incubator with intermittent N(2) gas flushing or in a gas tight-module sealed with 94% N(2), 1% O(2) and balance CO(2).