SpO2 MONITORING FOR TUMOR HYPOXIA AND PROGNOSIS PREDICTION

Abstract

Oxygen is essential for maintaining aerobic cell homeostasis. Hypoxia is a condition in which cells do not receive the oxygen they need to function properly. While hypoxia can occur during physiological activities, hypoxia is often associated with pathological diseases. It has been identified as a stressor in the tumor microenvironment and an important mediator of cancer development. Many pathways are activated in hypoxic cells, affecting cell signaling and gene regulation and promoting them by stimulating angiogenesis, changing cell metabolism, slowing their growth, and preventing cell apoptosis in vivo. Hypoxia causes metabolic dysregulation in cancer cells, leading to an aggressive tumor phenotype characterized by rapid growth, resistance to treatment, and poor prognosis. Noninvasive assessment of hypoxia-induced metabolic and tumor changes can reduce the need for invasive biopsy procedures and evaluate tumor response, thus improving the overall therapeutic management of breast cancer (BC) patients. This paper provides an overview of hypoxia-induced changes in cancer tumors, focusing on their use and their advantages and limitations.