The significance of heat shock proteins in breast cancer therapy

Med Oncol. 2013;30(2):575. doi: 10.1007/s12032-013-0575-y. Epub 2013 Apr 20.

Abstract

The evalutionary conserved heat shock proteins are involved basically life protecting mechanisms against harmful extracellular effects such as primarily heat shock response. Normally, the expression of these proteins is increased for cellular adaptation to high temperature. This increase is also important in the etiology of breast cancer. Overexpression of heat shock proteins is associated with reduced disease-free survival in breast cancer. However, increased expression of these proteins is related to acquired resistance of traditional chemotherapeutic drugs in use in breast cancer treatment. In this review, we discuss the multiple roles of heatshock proteins in resistance and where we are to overcome this in clinical practice.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
  • Female
  • Heat-Shock Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Humans
  • Prognosis

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Heat-Shock Proteins