Heat shock proteins and drug resistance.
Heat shock proteins (hsp's) are induced in cells when exposed to different environmental stressful conditions. We have found that breast cancer cells sometimes express high levels of several hsp's, which may both augment the aggressiveness of these tumors and make them more resistant to treatment. We have shown that hsp70 is an ominous prognostic sign as detected by Western blot assays in node-negative breast tumors, and that hsp27 increases specific resistance to doxorubicin in breast cancer cell lines. These findings have direct clinical application, and suggest that modulating hsp expression may be a therapeutic target for reversal of hsp-associated detrimental cellular effects.
Fuqua
S A
SA
Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio 78284-7884.
Oesterreich
S
S
Hilsenbeck
S G
SG
Von Hoff
D D
DD
Eckardt
J
J
Osborne
C K
CK
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins