Association of HIF-1α and NDRG2 expression with EMT in gastric cancer tissues

Objective: This study aims to investigate the differences in the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1 alpha), N-myc downstream-regulated gene 2 (NDRG2) and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins in normal gastric tissues, gastric cancer tissues and lymph node metastasis. Methods: Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of HIF-1 alpha, NDRG2, E-cadherin, Snail and Twist in normal gastric tissues, gastric cancer tissues and lymph node metastasis. Results: In normal gastric tissues, HIF-1 alpha was not expressed, NDRG2 was highly expressed. There was a significant between the expression of NDRG2 and Snail, as well as of NDRG2 and Twist. In gastric cancer tissues, there was no statistically difference between the expression of HIF-1 alpha and E-cadherin, NDRG2 and E-cadherin. However, there was a significant difference in expression between the expression of HIF-1 alpha and Snail, HIF-1 alpha and Twist, NDRG2 and Snail, and NDRG2 and Twist. In lymph node metastasis tissues, we show that HIF-1 alpha was highly expressed, while NDRG2 was not, and the difference between the expression of HIF-1 alpha and E-cadherin, HIF-1 alpha and Snail, HIF-1 alpha and Twist was not significant. Conclusion: HIF-1 alpha may promote EMT, possibly by inhibiting the expression of NDRG2.