Hypoxia-inducible factor 1α in combination with vascular endothelial growth factor could predict the prognosis of postoperative patients with oesophageal squamous cell cancer

The purpose of the study is to investigate the clinicopathological and prognostic features of dual hypoxia-inducible factor 1a (HIF-1a) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients. A total of 73 patients were enrolled in this study. The positive expression of HIF-1a was identified in 69.9% of the cases. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1a expression was correlative with pT (p = 0.008) and pTNM stage (p = 0.002). The positive expression of VEGF was identified in 63.0% of the cases. Vascular endothelial growth factor expression was correlative with pT (p = 0.005), pN (p = 0.045), and pTNM stage (p < 0.05). HIF-1a and VEGF expressions had a significantly positive correlation (p = 0.010). Dual positive expression of HIF-1a and VEGF was identified in 50.7% (37/73) of the cases, and it was significantly correlative with pT (p = 0.025), pN (p = 0.008), and pTNM stage (p = 0.014). The OSCC patients’ 5-year survival rate was correlative with pT (p < 0.05), pN (p < 0.01), pTNM stage (p < 0.01), VEGF expression (p < 0.01), and dual expressions of HIF-1a and VEGF (p < 0.01). Cox regression analysis showed that pN and dual HIF-1a and VEGF expression were independent prognostic factors for the 5-year survival rate of the patients. In conclusion, HIF-1a combined with VEGF could enable us to more accurately predict the prognosis of OSCC patients.