Piecing together the HIF-1 puzzle: The role of the CTGF as a molecular mechanism of HIF-1 regulation

Understanding the role that molecular compounds have in cancer is of significant interest, as the identification of molecular markers will aid in the prevention and elimination of cancer. Completing this expansive puzzle proves to be challenging because there is great diversity among tumors, specifically within the microenvironment. In a recent article by Chang et al. published in The Journal of the National Cancer Institute (Vol. , 2006) new insight is provided of three specific molecular compounds: hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), the connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and the vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A). As shown by Chang et al., these molecular compounds have significant implications in the role of human lung adenocarcinoma, and are shown to be integral within this microenvironment. This journal club article reviews the study of Chang et al. and briefly discusses the broader implications of their findings.