To explore the expression of hypoxia-inductive factor (HIF)-1α and autophagy related factors Beclin-1 and P62 in colorectal polyps and cancer.

Patients with colorectal polyps (include non-adenomatous polyps and adenomatous polyps) or cancer treated at the Third People's Hospital of Hefei from January 2018 to December 2021 were enrolled, and their clinical data and colorectal tissues were collected. Normal colorectal mucosal samples were included as a control group. The expressions of HIF-1α, Beclin-1, and P62 in polyps, carcinoma, and normal intestinal mucosa were detected by immunohistochemical method, and statistical analysis was performed.

A total of 51 patients were enrolled, including 25 males and 26 females. The mean age was 58.7±13.9 (28~95) years old. There were 14 cases of adenomatous polyps, 16 cases of non-adenomatous polyps, 11 cases of CRC, and 10 cases of normal colorectal mucosa. The positive expression rates of HIF-1α in normal colorectal mucosa, non-adenomatous polyps, adenomatous polyps, and CRC were 20.0%, 31.2%, 64.3%, and 81.8%, respectively; the corresponding rates of Beclin-1 were 40.0%, 62.5%, 85.7%, and 90.9%, and those of P62 were 30.0%, 56.3%, 78.6%, and 90.9%. The expression of HIF-1α, Beclin-1, and P62 in non-adenomatous polyps showed no significant difference compared with that of the normal group, while the expression of HIF-1 α, Beclin-1, and P62 in adenomatous polyps and CRC showed a significant difference compared with that of the normal group. Their expression in CRC was significantly higher than that in adenomatous polyps and non-adenomatous polyps (P＜0.05).

The expression of HIF-1α and autophagy related factors Beclin-1 and P62 in is significantly higher in adenomatous polyps and CRC than in non-adenomatous polyps and normal colorectal mucosa, and in CRC than in adenomatous polyps, suggesting that hypoxia and autophagy dysfunction may be involved in the carcinogenesis of colorectal adenoma