Heat shock protein 70–2 (HSP70-2) is a novel therapeutic target for colorectal cancer and is associated with tumor growth
Authors: Nirmal Kumar Lohiya
Anil Suri
Vitusha Suri
Nirmala Jagadish
Trilok Chand Sadasukhi
Abdul S Ansari
Namita Gupta
Sumit Agarwal
Anju Gupta
Rajive Kumar
Deepak Parashar
Vaishali Suri
Journal: BMC Cancer (2016)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: Cancer testis antigen; Gene silencing; HSP70-2; Therapeutic target.
Affiliations: Cancer Microarray, Genes and Proteins Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110 067, India., Department of Pathology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India., Institute of Rotary Cancer Hospital, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India., Department of Urology, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Hospital, Rajasthan, 302022, India., Department of Pathology, NMC Imaging and Diagnostic Centre, Vidyasagar Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences, New Delhi, 110065, India., Centre for Advanced Studies, Department of Zoology, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, 302 004, India., Cancer Microarray, Genes and Proteins Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110 067, India. .

Abstract:  Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer related deaths worldwide both in men and women. Our recent studies have indicated an association of heat shock protein 70-2 (HSP70-2) with bladder urothelial carcinoma. In the present study, we investigated the association of HSP70-2 with various malignant properties of colorectal cancer cells and clinic-pathological features of CRC in clinical specimens. Methods: HSP70-2 mRNA and protein was investigated expression by RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, flow cytometry and Western blotting in CRC clinical specimens and COLO205 and HCT116 cell lines. Plasmid-based gene silencing approach was employed to study the association of HSP70-2 with various malignant properties of COLO205 and HCT116 cells in in vitro and with tumor progression in in vivo COLO205 human xenograft mice model. Results: HSP70-2 expression was detected in 78 % of CRC patients irrespective of various stages and grades by RT-PCR and IHC. Our analysis further revealed that HSP70-2 expression was detected in both COLO205 and HCT116 cell lines. Ablation of HSP70-2 expression resulted in reduced cellular growth, colony forming ability, migratory and invasive ability of CRC cells. In addition, ablation of HSP70-2 expression showed significant reduction in tumor growth in COLO205 human xenograft in in vivo mouse model. Conclusion: Collectively, our results indicate that HSP70-2 is associated with CRC clinical specimens. In addition, down regulation of HSP70-2 expression reduces cellular proliferation and tumor growth indicating that HSP70-2 may be a potential therapeutic target for CRC treatment. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 Two images in figure 5B appear to overlap. *** ![file] , 
 Figure 1A has an area of sharp transition in the background of one band (red arrow). Could the authors please provide an uncropped original scan? *** ![file] *** ![file] , 
 Two images in figure 5A also appear to overlap. *** ![file] ,