Expression of heat shock protein 70 in nasopharyngeal carcinomas: different expression patterns correlate with distinct clinical prognosis

Heat shock protein paradigms in cancer progression: future therapeutic perspectives

Heat-shock proteins (HSPs), also known as stress proteins, are ubiquitously present in all forms of life. They play pivotal roles in protein folding and unfolding, the formation of multiprotein complexes, the transportation and sorting of proteins into their designated subcellular compartments, the regulation of the cell cycle, and signalling processes. These HSPs encompass HSP27, HSP40, HSP70, HSP60, and HSP90, each contributing to various cellular functions. In the context of cancer, HSPs exert influence by either inhibiting or activating diverse signalling pathways, thereby impacting growth, differentiation, and cell division. This article offers an extensive exploration of the functions of HSPs within the realms of pharmacology and cancer biology. HSPs are believed to play substantial roles in the mechanisms underlying the initiation and progression of cancer. They hold promise as valuable clinical markers for cancer diagnosis, potential targets for therapeutic interventions, and indicators of disease progression. In times of cellular stress, HSPs function as molecular chaperones, safeguarding the structural and functional integrity of proteins and aiding in their proper folding. Moreover, HSPs play a crucial role in cancer growth, by regulating processes such as angiogenesis, cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and metastasis.

Heat shock proteins in cancer - Known but always being rediscovered: Their perspectives in cancer immunotherapy

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) represent cellular chaperones that are classified into several families, including HSP27, HSP40, HSP60, HSP70, and HSP90. The role of HSPs in the cell includes the facilitation of protein folding and maintaining protein structure. Both processes play crucial roles during stress conditions in the cell such as heat shock, degradation, and hypoxia. Moreover, HSPs are important modulators of cellular proliferation and differentiation, and are strongly associated with the molecular orchestration of carcinogenesis. The expression and/or activity of HSPs in cancer cells is generally abnormally high and is associated with increased metastatic potential and activity of cancer stem cells, more pronounced angiogenesis, downregulated apoptosis, and the resistance to anticancer therapy in many patients. Based on the mentioned reasons, HSPs have strong potential as valid diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic biomarkers in clinical oncology. In addition, numerous papers describe the role of HSPs as chaperones in the regulation of immune responses inside and outside the cell. Importantly, highly expressed/activated HSPs may be inhibited via immunotherapeutic targets in various types of cancers. The aim of this work is to provide a comprehensive overview of the relationship between HSPs and the tumor cell with the intention of highlighting the potential use of HSPs in personalized cancer management.

The Pro-Tumorigenic Role of Chemotherapy-Induced Extracellular HSP70 from Breast Cancer Cells via Intratumoral Macrophages

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) contribute to tumor progression and chemoresistance; it is therefore important to clarify the altered functions of macrophages following chemotherapy. While extracellular heat shock protein (HSP) 70 is associated with therapeutic resistance, the effects of HSP70 on TAMs remain largely unknown. Here, we conducted in vitro experiments and immunohistochemistry in 116 breast carcinoma specimens to determine whether the secretion of HSP70 from breast cancer cells following chemotherapy affects macrophage function. It was revealed that the interaction of epirubicin (EPI)-exposed breast cancer cells with macrophages enhanced tumor progression, and EPI promoted the secretion of extracellular HSP70 from breast cancer cells. The expression of pro-tumorigenic macrophage marker CD163 was decreased in macrophages treated with a conditioned medium (CM) from HSP70-silenced breast cancer cells. Breast cancer cells treated with CM from HSP70-silenced breast cancer cells showed decreased expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, and the pro-tumorigenic effects of macrophages were impaired when TGF-β signaling was inhibited. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that HSP70 served as a poor prognostic factor in conjunction with macrophage infiltration. It was therefore concluded that extracellular HSP70 levels increased following chemotherapy and enhanced the pro-tumorigenic effects of TAMs, either directly or indirectly, by regulating TGF-β expression in breast cancer cells.

Heat Shock Proteins 27, 70, and 110: Expression and Prognostic Significance in Colorectal Cancer

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are evolutionarily conserved chaperones occurring in virtually all living organisms playing a key role in the maintenance of cellular homeostasis. They are constitutively expressed to prevent and repair protein damage following various physiological and environmental stressors. HSPs are overexpressed in various types of cancers to provide cytoprotective function, and they have been described to influence prognosis and response to therapy. Moreover, they have been used as a tumor marker in blood serum biochemistry and they represent a potentially promising therapeutic target. To clarify prognostic significance of two canonical HSPs (27 and 70) and less known HSP110 (previously known as HSP105) in colorectal carcinoma (CRC), we retrospectively performed HSP immunohistochemistry on tissue microarrays from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor tissue from 297 patients with known follow-up. Survival analysis (univariate Kaplan-Meier analysis with the log-rank test and multivariate Cox regression) revealed significantly shorter overall survival (OS, mean 5.54 vs. 7.07, p = 0.033) and borderline insignificantly shorter cancer specific survival (CSS, mean 6.3 vs. 7.87 years, p = 0.066) in patients with HSP70+ tumors. In the case of HSP27+ tumors, there was an insignificantly shorter OS (mean 6.36 vs. 7.13 years, p = 0.2) and CSS (mean 7.17 vs. 7.95 years, p = 0.2). HSP110 showed no significant impact on survival. Using Pearson's chi-squared test, there was a significant association of HSP27 and HSP70 expression with advanced cancer stage. HSP27+ tumors were more frequently mismatch-repair proficient and vice versa (p = 0.014), and they occurred more often in female patients and vice versa (p = 0.015). There was an enrichment of left sided tumors with HSP110+ compared to the right sided (p = 0.022). In multivariate Cox regression adjusted on the UICC stage, grade and right/left side; both HSPs 27 and 70 were not independent survival predictors (p = 0.616 & p = 0.586). In multivariate analysis, only advanced UICC stage (p = 0) and right sided localization (p = 0.04) were independent predictors of worse CSS. In conclusion, from all three HSPs examined in our study, only HSP70 expression worsened CRC prognosis, although stage-dependent. The contribution of this article may be seen as a large survival analysis of HSPs 27 and 70 and the largest analysis of HSP110 described in CRC.

Recent advances in heat shock proteins in cancer diagnosis, prognosis, metabolism and treatment

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are a group of proteins, also known as molecular chaperones, which participate in protein folding and maturation in response to stresses or high temperature. According to their molecular weights, mammalian HSPs are classified into HSP27, HSP40, HSP60, HSP70, HSP90, and large HSPs. Previous studies have revealed that HSPs play important roles in oncogenesis and malignant progression because they can modulate all six hallmark traits of cancer. Because of this, HSPs have been propelled into the spotlight as biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and prognosis, as well as an exciting anticancer drug target. However, the relationship between the expression level of HSPs and their activity and cancer diagnosis, prognosis, metabolism and treatment is not clear and has not been completely established. Herein, this review summarizes and discusses recent advances and perspectives in major HSPs as biomarkers for cancer diagnosis, as regulators for cancer metabolism or as therapeutic targets for cancer therapy, which may provide new directions to improve the accuracy of cancer diagnosis and develop more effective and safer anticancer therapeutics.

Characterization of the dual functional effects of heat shock proteins (HSPs) in cancer hallmarks to aid development of HSP inhibitors

BACKGROUND

Heat shock proteins (HSPs), a representative family of chaperone genes, play crucial roles in malignant progression and are pursued as attractive anti-cancer therapeutic targets. Despite tremendous efforts to develop anti-cancer drugs based on HSPs, no HSP inhibitors have thus far reached the milestone of FDA approval. There remains an unmet need to further understand the functional roles of HSPs in cancer.

METHODS

We constructed the network for HSPs across ~ 10,000 tumor samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and ~ 10,000 normal samples from Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx), and compared the network disruption between tumor and normal samples. We then examined the associations between HSPs and cancer hallmarks and validated these associations from multiple independent high-throughput functional screens, including Project Achilles and DRIVE. Finally, we experimentally characterized the dual function effects of HSPs in tumor proliferation and metastasis.

RESULTS

We comprehensively analyzed the HSP expression landscape across multiple human cancers and revealed a global disruption of the co-expression network for HSPs. Through analyzing HSP expression alteration and its association with tumor proliferation and metastasis, we revealed dual functional effects of HSPs, in that they can simultaneously influence proliferation and metastasis in opposite directions. We experimentally characterized the dual function of two genes, DNAJC9 and HSPA14, in lung cancer cells. We further demonstrated the generalization of this dual direction of associations between HSPs and cancer hallmarks, suggesting the necessity to more carefully evaluate HSPs as therapeutic targets and develop highly specific HSP inhibitors for cancer intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study furnishes a holistic view of functional associations of HSPs with cancer hallmarks to aid the development of HSP inhibitors as well as other drugs in cancer therapy.

Cytosolic Hsp70 as a biomarker to predict clinical outcome in patients with glioblastoma

INTRODUCTION

The major stress-inducible heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) is induced after different stress stimuli. In tumors, elevated intracellular Hsp70 levels were associated on the one hand with radio- and chemotherapy resistance and on the other hand with a favorable outcome for patients. This study was undertaken to investigate cytosolic Hsp70 (cHsp70) as a potential biomarker for progression free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with primary glioblastomas (GBM).

METHODS

The cHsp70 expression in tumor tissue of 60 patients diagnosed with primary GBM was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. The cHsp70 expression was correlated to the PFS and OS of the patients.

RESULTS

A high cHsp70 expression was associated with a prolonged PFS (hazard ratio = 0.374, p = 0.001) and OS (hazard ratio = 0.416, p = 0.014) in GBM patients treated according to the standard Stupp protocol with surgery, radiotherapy and temozolomide.

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest that the intracellular Hsp70 expression might serve as a prognostic marker in patients with primary GBM.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma: understanding its molecular biology at a fine scale

Among all cancers, the incidence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is quite high in the endemic regions. NPC is a head and neck cancer with poor survival rate, and is rare throughout most of the world but common in certain geographic areas, like southern Asia and some regions of North East India (Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram). A clear understanding of its etiology is still lacking, but NPC is widely suspected to be the result of both genetic susceptibility and exposure to environmental factors or Epstein-Barr virus infection. Diagnosis in the early stages needs a high index of clinical acumen, and, although most cross-sectional imaging investigations show the tumor with precision, confirmation is dependent on histology. This article reviews all related research reports on NPC histopathological classifications worldwide that have been published within the past 20 years. Genome-wide association studies suggested that there might be common disease mechanisms between that disease and NPC. Personalized management rules, quality assessment of life in patients, and an understanding of the essential mechanisms of recurrence could be directed toward research into recurrent NPC. Hence, this literature would offer otolaryngologists a deeper insight into the etiological and management aspects of NPC.

Intracell Heat Shock Protein 70 Expression and Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Stage

Tumor growth and metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients recent research stated that intracellular Hsp70 is a stress protein as the main factor for the growth, invasion and metastasis of NPC. To analyze intracellular Hsp70 protein expression of NPC patients which correlate with staging of NPC as clinical manifestation. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded biopsy specimens from 20 NPCs histopathology and clinically. The expression of intracellular Hsp70 was obtained using monoclonal antibody of Anti Human Hsp70 from Santa Cruz Biotechnology, California, USA. The assessment of the staining was performed with Remmele methode by Histopathologies doctor Consultant. 20 NPC patients met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The data showed a negative intracellular of Hsp70 expression by 15% for all sample that consist of 1 patient of stage I, II, III, and none for stage IV. Then, followed by 25% of mild positive intracellular Hsp70 expression which consisted of 0 patient of stage I and III, 2 patients of stage II, and 3 patients of stage IV. Followed by 50% of moderate positive intracellular Hsp70 expression which consisted of 0 patient of stage I and II, 1 patient of stage III, and 9 patients of stage IV. Spearman test results test scored p = 0.001 with a correlation coefficient of 0.671. The correlation of intracellular Hsp70 protein expression with stage (I, II, III, and IV) in NPC patients was significant (p < 0.05). There was a correlation between increased intracellular Hsp70 expression and the stage of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Targeting Heat Shock Proteins in Cancer: A Promising Therapeutic Approach

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are a large family of chaperones that are involved in protein folding and maturation of a variety of "client" proteins protecting them from degradation, oxidative stress, hypoxia, and thermal stress. Hence, they are significant regulators of cellular proliferation, differentiation and strongly implicated in the molecular orchestration of cancer development and progression as many of their clients are well established oncoproteins in multiple tumor types. Interestingly, tumor cells are more HSP chaperonage-dependent than normal cells for proliferation and survival because the oncoproteins in cancer cells are often misfolded and require augmented chaperonage activity for correction. This led to the development of several inhibitors of HSP90 and other HSPs that have shown promise both preclinically and clinically in the treatment of cancer. In this article, we comprehensively review the roles of some of the important HSPs in cancer, and how targeting them could be efficacious, especially when traditional cancer therapies fail.

CORRELATION BETWEEN INTRACELLULAR HEAT SHOCK PROTEIN 70 EXPRESSION AND CERVICAL LYMPH NODES ENLARGEMENT IN NASOPHARYNGEAL CARCINOMA

Tumor growth and metastasis in NPC patients suspected role of several molecular biomarkers that have been identified in tumor specimens of patients with NPC. Recent research states intracellular Hsp70 is a stress protein that is a main factor for the growth, invasion and metastasis of NPC. The purpose of this study is to analyze intracellular Hsp70 protein expression of NPC patients which correlate with staging of NPC as clinical manifestation. This study used cross sectional design. In this study, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded biopsy specimens were obtained from 18 NPCs with all of histopathology and clinically divided into N0, N1, N2, N3. The expression of intracellular Hsp70 was obtained with immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibody Anti Human Hsp70 antibodi from Santa Cruz Biotechnology, California, USA. Assessment of the staining was performed with Remmele methode by Histopathologies doctor Consultant. The Spearman’s test was used to determine the relationship between expression of intracellular Hsp70 protein and enlargement cervical nodul of NPC. Statistical significance was defined as p <0,05. There were 18 patients NPC patients that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Showed negative intracellular Hsp70 expression by 16,67% for all sample in which consist 1 patient of N0, 1 patient of N1, 1 patient of N2, 0 patient of N3. Followed by 27,78% mild positive intracellular Hsp70 expression which consist 0 patient of N0, 2 patients of N1, 0 patient of N2, 3 patients of N3. Followed by 44,44% moderate positive intracellular Hsp70 expression which consist 0 patient of N0, 0 patient of N1, 1 patient of N2, 9 patients of N3. Followed by 11,11% strongly positive intracellular Hsp70 expression which consist 0 patient of N0, 0 patient of N1, 0 patient of N2, 2 patients of N3. Spearman test results test scores p = 0.01 with a correlation coefficient 0.606. Correlation of intracellular Hsp70 protein expression with enlargement cervical nodul of lymphe (N0, N1, N2, N3) in patients with NPC showed significant (p<0.05). In conclusion, there was correlation between increase of the intacellular Hsp70 expression and enlargement cervical nodul of lymphe in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Heat Shock Proteins and Cancer

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) constitute a large family of proteins involved in protein folding and maturation whose expression is induced by heat shock or other stressors. The major groups are classified based on their molecular weights and include HSP27, HSP40, HSP60, HSP70, HSP90, and large HSPs. HSPs play a significant role in cellular proliferation, differentiation, and carcinogenesis. In this article we comprehensively review the roles of major HSPs in cancer biology and pharmacology. HSPs are thought to play significant roles in the molecular mechanisms leading to cancer development and metastasis. HSPs may also have potential clinical uses as biomarkers for cancer diagnosis, for assessing disease progression, or as therapeutic targets for cancer therapy.

Hsp70 in cancer: back to the future

Mechanistic studies from cell culture and animal models have revealed critical roles for the heat shock protein Hsp70 in cancer initiation and progression. Surprisingly, many effects of Hsp70 on cancer have not been related to its chaperone activity, but rather to its role(s) in regulating cell signaling. A major factor that directs Hsp70 signaling activity appears to be the co-chaperone Bag3. Here, we review these recent breakthroughs, and how these discoveries drive drug development efforts.

Heat shock protein 70 as a predictive marker for platinum-based adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with resected non-small cell lung cancer

OBJECTIVES

Although adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy improves survival in completely resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), its effect is limited. We evaluated whether the expression of heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) is associated with clinical outcomes in patients with completely resected NSCLC who were treated with or without adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients who underwent curative resection for NSCLC and diagnosed as stage IIA through IIIA were included. Immunohistochemical staining for Hsp70 was performed on surgical specimens and survival rates were compared by Hsp70 expression and adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy.

RESULTS

Of 327 enrolled patients, Hsp70 expression was positive in 220 (67.3%). For patients who did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy, Hsp70 expression did not significantly affect survival. However, for patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy, those with Hsp70-positive tumors had a longer disease-free survival outcome than cases with Hsp70-negative tumors (not reached vs. 27.3 months; P=0.002), although there was no significant difference in overall survival (97.0 vs. 58.9 months, P=0.080). In the adjuvant chemotherapy group, multivariate modeling showed that patients with Hsp70-postitive tumors had a lower risk of recurrence and death after adjusting for age, sex, performance status, pathologic stage, and histological type (disease-free survival: adjusted hazard ratio, 0.537; 95% CI, 0.362-0.796; P=0.002; overall survival: adjusted hazard ratio, 0.663; 95% CI, 0.419-1.051; P=0.080).

CONCLUSION

Hsp70 is a positive predictive factor in completely resected NSCLC with received platinum-based adjuvant chemotherapy.