title: HIF-1alpha and STAT3 client proteins interacting with the cancer chaperone Hsp90: therapeutic considerations.
abstract: Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) is an ATP-dependent chaperone and a noteworthy component of cellular folding machinery in eukaryotes and bacteria. What makes Hsp90 specifically promising as a target for anti-cancer drugs is that many of its client proteins are involved in signaling and chromatin-remodeling pathways, and these pathways are often disrupted in many types of cancers. A very recent study by Lang et al. (Clin Cancer Res 2007; 13:6459-68) provide compelling evidence supporting a novel IL-6/STAT3/HIF-1alpha autocrine loop in pancreatic cancer cells, emphasizing the arresting role of Hsp90 inhibitors. Here, we discuss up-to-date advances towards the development of novel Hsp90 inhibitors designed to selectively block the growth and proliferation of tumor cells and proving to be intriguing targets for current clinical studies and cancer therapeutics.
authors.affiliation: Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, USA.
authors.forename: Hanna Leah
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cassone
authors.forename: Laszlo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Otvos
authors.forename: Paraskevi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vogiatzi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D018841:HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D006801:Humans; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000502:physiology*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000502:physiology; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D018841:HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D015850:Interleukin-6; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor