HSPA2 is expressed in human tumors and correlates with clinical features in non-small cell lung carcinoma patients.

BACKGROUND/AIM: It has been shown that HSPA2 protein, a testis-enriched member of HSPA/HSP70 family, is important for cancer cell growth and metastasis. However, the status of HSPA2 expression in tumors and its clinical/prognostic significance are obscure. Herein we aimed to investigate the expression of HSPA2 in various types of tumors and to determine the possible clinical and prognostic significance of HSPA2 in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Tissue microarrays and postoperative NSCLC tumors were tested for HSPA2 by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

HSPA2 is expressed in the majority of tumor histotypes. In NSCLC patients (n=85), nuclear HSPA2 expression was associated with histology, TNM staging and prognosis. High HSPA2 expression was significantly related to shorter overall survival (OS) in stage I-II patients. In multivariate analysis, high HSPA2, together with stage IIIA and male sex, were associated with shorter OS in the whole group.

CONCLUSIONS

As exemplified in NSCLC the status of HSPA2 in human tumors may have certain prognostic significance.