¹Tumor Hypoxia Laboratory, Developmental Therapeutics Program, SAIC-Frederick, Inc., NCI at Frederick, Frederick, MD, USA

Correspondence: Dr G Melillo, DTP-Tumor Hypoxia Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, 1050 Boyles Street, Building 432, Room 218, Frederick, MD 21702, USA. E-mail: melillog@ncifcrf.gov

Received 24 January 2007; Revised 16 March 2007; Accepted 16 March 2007; Published online 14 May 2007.

Abstract

Hypoxia inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) is a key player in cancer progression and an attractive target for cancer therapy. Several small molecule inhibitors of HIF-1 also induce a DNA damage response. However, whether or not DNA damage is required for or associated with the inhibition of HIF-1 protein accumulation is poorly understood. In this report we investigated the effects of distinct DNA damaging conditions on the hypoxic induction of HIF-1 protein in cancer cell lines. We demonstrate that in addition to topotecan (TPT), a known inhibitor of HIF-1, UVC, but not other DNA damaging agents (cisplatin, ionizing radiation and doxorubicin), inhibited HIF-1 protein accumulation in a dose-dependent, p53-independent fashion. Low doses UVC decreased HIF-1 translation without affecting global protein synthesis. Inhibition of HIF-1 by UVC required ongoing RNA transcription, but not DNA replication. Moreover, a functional ATR was required for the activation of DNA damage-dependent responses by both UVC and TPT, but was dispensable for the inhibition of HIF-1 protein. Notably, unlike TPT, inhibition of HIF-1 protein by UVC did not require topoisomerase I, suggesting a similar yet distinct mode of action. Our data reveal that UVC is a novel signal associated with inhibition of HIF-1 protein accumulation, and they uncouple the DNA damage-dependent signaling pathway exerted by UVC and TPT from HIF-1 inhibition.