HSP27 and 70 expression in thymic epithelial tumors and benign thymic alterations: diagnostic, prognostic and physiologic implications.
Thymic Epithelial Tumors (TETs), the most common tumors in the anterior mediastinum in adults, show a unique association with autoimmune Myasthenia Gravis (MG) and represent a multidisciplinary diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Neither risk factors nor established biomarkers for TETs exist. Predictive and diagnostic markers are urgently needed. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are upregulated in several malignancies promoting tumor cell survival and metastases. We performed immunohistochemical staining of HSP27 and 70 in patients with TETs (n = 101) and patients with benign thymic alterations (n = 24). Further, serum HSP27 and 70 concentrations were determined in patients with TETs (n = 46), patients with benign thymic alterations (n = 33) and volunteers (n = 49) by using ELISA. HSPs were differentially expressed in histologic types and pathological tumor stages of TETs. Weak HSP tumor expression correlated with worse freedom from recurrence. Serum HSP concentrations were elevated in TETs and MG, correlated with clinical tumor stage and histologic subtype and decreased significantly after complete tumor resection. To conclude, we found HSP expression in the vast majority of TETs, in physiologic thymus and staining intensities in patients with TETs have been associated with prognosis. However, although interesting and promising the role of HSPs in TETs as diagnostic and prognostic or even therapeutic markers need to be further evaluated.
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Division of Surgery, Medical University Vienna, Austria.|Christian Doppler Laboratory for the Diagnosis and Regeneration of Cardiac and Thoracic Diseases, Medical University Vienna, Austria.
S
S
Janik
Clinical Institute of Pathology, Medical University Vienna, Austria.
A I
AI
Schiefer
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Division of Surgery, Medical University Vienna, Austria.|Christian Doppler Laboratory for the Diagnosis and Regeneration of Cardiac and Thoracic Diseases, Medical University Vienna, Austria.
C
C
Bekos
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Division of Surgery, Medical University Vienna, Austria.|Christian Doppler Laboratory for the Diagnosis and Regeneration of Cardiac and Thoracic Diseases, Medical University Vienna, Austria.
P
P
Hacker
Christian Doppler Laboratory for the Diagnosis and Regeneration of Cardiac and Thoracic Diseases, Medical University Vienna, Austria.|University Clinic for Trauma Surgery, Medical University Vienna, Austria.
T
T
Haider
Departments of Dermatology and Venereology and Karl Landsteiner Institute of Dermatological Research, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, St. Pölten, Austria.
J
J
Moser
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Division of Surgery, Medical University Vienna, Austria.
W
W
Klepetko
Clinical Institute of Pathology, Medical University Vienna, Austria.
L
L
Müllauer
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Division of Surgery, Medical University Vienna, Austria.|Christian Doppler Laboratory for the Diagnosis and Regeneration of Cardiac and Thoracic Diseases, Medical University Vienna, Austria.
H J
HJ
Ankersmit
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Division of Surgery, Medical University Vienna, Austria.
B
B
Moser
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers; D003713:Dendritic Cells; D005260:Female; D055551:HSP27 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality; D063868:Patient Outcome Assessment; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D055551:HSP27 Heat-Shock Proteins; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins