Hypoxia, stem cells and bone tumor

Normal oxygen level is critical for niches that together with other components of the niche play vital role in regulating stem or tumor cells behavior. Hypoxia plays an important role in normal development and disease progression, including the growth of solid tumors. The hypoxia inducible factors (HIFs) are the key mediators of the cellular response to hypoxia. In this review, we focused on the role of HIFs on bone tumor formation. Further, we also emphasized how hypoxia, stem cells, and its niches regulate the bone tumorigenesis.

► Hypoxia plays an important role in normal development and growth of solid tumors.
► Hypoxia drives tumor bone metastases.
► Blockage of HIF pathway provides therapeutic advantage in bone tumor patients.
► HIF is highly expressed in cancer stem cells.
► Targeting hypoxia would be novel strategy to eliminate cancer stem cells and cure bone tumor.