Co-expression of Hif1α and CAIX is associated with poor prognosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma patients

Background: This study investigates the prognostic impact of the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (Hif1 alpha) and carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX) detected by immunohistochemistry in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Methods: Statistical analysis of immunohistochemical results with clinical parameters including survival outcomes was performed for 80 OSCC patients. Results: Patients with a low expression of both proteins survived on average 54.8 months, whereas those with an increased expression of Hif1 alpha in their tumors combined with a low expression of CAIX survived on average only 37.6 months (P = 0.026). In multivariate Cox's regression hazard analysis, again patients with a low expression of Hif1 alpha/CAIX had the best prognosis, whereas patients with increased Hif1 alpha and low CAIX expression carried a 4.97-fold increased risk of tumor-related death (P = 0.042). Conclusion: A co-detection of low Hif1 alpha/CAIX expression is significantly correlated with a better prognosis for OSCC patients, which may have implications for therapy options for these patients.