Overexpression of HSP10 correlates with HSP60 and Mcl-1 levels and predicts poor prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer patients.

Background: HSP60 and its partner HSP10 are members of heat shock proteins (HSPs) family, which help mitochondrial protein to fold correctly. Mcl-1, a member of the Bcl-2 family, plays a crucial role in regulation of cell apoptosis. Aberrant expression of HSP10, HSP60 and Mcl-1 is involved in the development of many tumors.

Objective: To examine the association between expression of HSP10, HSP60 and Mcl-1 and clinicopathological features of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: Tissue microarrays including 53 non-cancerous lung tissues (Non-CLT) and 354 surgically resected NSCLC were stained with anti-HSP10, anti-HSP60 and anti-Mcl-1 antibodies respectively by immunohistochemistry.

Results: Higher expression of HSP10, HSP60 and Mcl-1 was found in NSCLC compared with Non-CLT. Both individual and combined HSP10 and HSP60 expression in patients with clinical stage III was higher than that in stage I ∼ II. Expression of HSP10 showed a positive correlation with HSP60 and Mcl-1. Overall survival time of NSCLC patients was remarkably shorter with elevated expression of HSP10, HSP60 and Mcl-1 alone and in combination. Moreover overexpression of HSP10 and Mcl-1 was poor independent prognostic factor for lung adenocarcinoma patients.

Conclusions: High expression of HSP10, HSP60 and Mcl-1 might act as novel biomarker of poor prognosis for NSCLC patients.