Heat shock protein 70 membrane expression in oral cancer: a possible new target in antineoplastic therapy?
BACKGROUND
Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are a group of highly immunogenic proteins with an exceptional degree of conservation. Cells or tissues from a wide range of tumors have been shown to express atypical levels of 1 or more HSPs. Experimental evidence suggests that HSPs may promote tumorigenesis by suppressing apoptosis.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this investigation was to study the expression and the localization of HSP70 in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and to compare HSP70 expression between neoplastic, dysplastic lesions and normal oral tissues.


METHODS
Immunohistochemistry staining was conducted to study HSP70 expression in 50 paraffinized tissue samples: 30 OSCCs, 10 leukoplakias with dysplasia and 10 samples from normal oral tissue.


RESULTS
Our results showed that all slides with OSCC intensely expressed HSP70. Dysplastic lesions were positive to a lesser extent for HSP70. Samples from normal oral tissue were all negative for HSP70.


CONCLUSIONS
It is concluded that increased HSP70 immunoexpression could be a marker for the presence of epithelial dysplasia or epithelial malignant transformation.
Markopoulos
Anastasios K
AK
Department of Oral Medicine and Maxillofacial Pathology, School of Dentistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece. anmark@dent.auth.gr
Deligianni
Eleni
E
Antoniades
Demetrios Z
DZ
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins