Impact of Chronic Stress and Anxiety on Interleukin-6, Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1α and on Pathological and Immunohistochemical Parameters in Breast Cancer

Our results show a positive correlation between anxiety and HIF-1α, which plays a crucial role in tumor angiogenesis, as well as with SBR grade. These findings suggest that anxiety may modulate tumor angiogenesis and contribute to increased tumor aggressiveness and grade. A negative association was also observed between HER2 and HIF-1α, which may be explained by a negative regulatory mechanism between the HER2 and HIF-1α signaling pathways. Furthermore, no association was found between stress or anxiety and IL-6 levels.