As we observed upregulation of FOXC2 expression in hypoxic tumor cores, we first examined the expression of FOXC2 and HIF-1α in immortalized (HMLE) and RAS-transformed (HMLER) human mammary epithelial cells, following exposure to DFX, an iron chelator known to function as a hypoxia-mimetic. Here, FOXC2 is linked to neoplasm.