Hypoxia is a characteristic property of locally advanced solid tumors, resulting from an imbalance between the supply and
consumption of oxygen. Major pathogenetic mechanisms for the development of hypoxia are (1) structural and functional abnormalities
of the tumor microvasculature, (2) increased diffusion distances, and (3) tumor-associated and therapy-induced anemia. The
oxygenation status is independent of clinical tumor size, stage, grade, and histopathological type, but is affected by the
hemoglobin level. Hypoxia is intensified in anemic patients, especially in tumors with low perfusion rates. Hypoxia and anemia
(most probably via worsening of tumor hypoxia) can lead to therapeutic problems, as they make solid tumors resistant to sparsely
ionizing radiation and some forms of chemotherapy. In addition to more direct mechanisms involved in the development of therapeutic
resistance, there are also indirect machineries that can cause barriers to therapies. These include hypoxia-driven proteome
and genome changes and clonal selection. These, in turn, can drive subsequent events that are known to further increase resistance
to therapy (in addition to critically affecting long-term prognosis). Treatment resistance in anemic patients can be, at least
partially, prevented or overcome by anemia correction, resulting in better locoregional tumor control and overall survival
of patients.
Key Words Tumor hypoxia - tumor oxygenation - anemia - therapeutic resistance - radiotherapy - chemotherapy - malignant progression