Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) are transcription factors that are expressed as cellular adaptations in order to improve the metabolism as well as neovascularisation in the hypoxic tumor microenvironment. HIFs induce the expression of various genes of proteins such as vascular endothelial growth factors and plateletderived growth factors that have a central pivotal role in the angiogenesis and inflammation. Accounting the role played by HIFs, many recent studies highlighted the significance of therapeutic potential of HIF-targeted antagonists. Agents that block the nuclear localization of HIF-1alpha or that which inhibits the dimerization of HIF-1, or the one that inhibits the HIF-1alpha/HIF-2alpha mediated induction of VEGF were demonstrated as effective antiangiogenic agents in advanced cancers. This short communication describes a recent highlight on the need of targeting the HIFs.

Keywords: Hypoxia-Inducible Factor; Antagonists; Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma; Angiogenesis; Hypoxia; Normoxia.