Heat Shock Proteins in Cancer: Signaling Pathways, Tumor Markers and Molecular Targets in Liver Malignancy

Title: Heat Shock Proteins in Cancer: Signaling Pathways, Tumor Markers and Molecular Targets in Liver Malignancy

Volume: 16 Issue: 5

Author(s): Wen Jing Lu, Nikki P. Lee, Sarwat Fatima and John M. Luk

Affiliation:

Keywords: Heat shock protein, hepatocellular carcinoma, diagnostic biomarkers, therapeutic targets

Abstract: Heat shock proteins (HSPs) consist of a large group of proteins with negligible expressions under physiological conditions. Their expressions are highly induced under stress conditions and they are ubiquitously expressed in various tissues and organs. HSPs possess chaperone functions, thus facilitating the correct folding of proteins or peptides. In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), high expressions of HSPs are demonstrated in liver cancer tissues and are correlated clinically with the severity of tumors and poor outcomes of HCC patients. This property enables them to be used as diagnostic markers for the onset of HCC. Since their expressions are highly expressed in liver cancer conditions, inhibitors or antisense oligonucleotides of HSPs are postulated to serve as potential therapeutics in treating this liver malignancy. In this review, we will first introduce the HSP family and discuss the major signaling pathways involved for the activities of HSPs. In addition, the clinical applications of HSPs in liver cancer in the aspects of diagnosis and therapy will be summarized and discussed.

Cite this article as:

Lu Jing Wen, Lee P. Nikki, Fatima Sarwat and Luk M. John, Heat Shock Proteins in Cancer: Signaling Pathways, Tumor Markers and Molecular Targets in Liver Malignancy, Protein & Peptide Letters 2009; 16 (5) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986609788167752