The expressions of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α and carbonic anhydrase IX in gestational trophoblastic disease

Objective: To explore the role of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) and carbonic anhydrase IX(CAIX) in oncogenesis and development of gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD). Methods: The expressions of HIF-α and CAIX were determined immunohistochemically by specific antibodies on formalin-fixed paraffin sections of normal pregnancy villi (32 cases), hydatidiform moles (33 cases), and invasive hydatidiform moles (26 cases). Results: The positive rate of HIF-1α in normal pregnancy villi (NP), hydatidiform moles (HM) and invasive hydatidiform moles (IM) was 28.1% (9/32), 45.5% (15/33) and 73.1% (19/26), respectively. It was significantly higher in IM than in HM and NP(P<0.05), and there was no statistical difference between the latter two groups (P>0.05). The positive rate of CAIX in NP, HM and IM was 31.2(10/32), 3.0(1/33) and 57.7%(15/26), respectively. It was significantly higher in IM than in HM and NP(P<0.05), and CAIX was almost negatively expressed in HM group, which differed significantly from that in NP group (P<0.05). There was no correlation between HIF-1α and CAIX expressions in IM (P>0.05). Conclusion: The expressions of HIF-1α and CAIX were both higher in gestational trophoblastic neoplasia than in normal pregnancy and hydatidiform moles, which indicates that HIF-1α and CAIX may play a role in oncogenesis and development of malignant transformation of trophoblastic cells.