Peter John Ratcliffe

Molecular mechanisms of carbonic anhydrase IX-mediated pH regulation under hypoxia

Solid tumours often develop hypoxic areas due to insufficient supply of oxygen by irregular and functionally defective tumour vasculature. Hypoxia then creates selective pressure in favour of tumour cells that can adapt to this microenvironmental stress. Adaptation to diminished oxygenation has serious consequences: hypoxic tumour cells acquire oncogenic alterations in metabolism, gain increased resistance to conventional anticancer treatment, and are more prone to mutations. Finally, these adaptive changes result in expansion of cells with more aggressive phenotype and increased metastatic potential [1].