Expression of heat shock proteins in bronchial carcinoma

Bronchial carcinoma is one of the most common tumors in both men and women. In Germany approximately 36000 men and 19600 women were diagnosed with bronchial carcinoma in 2014. Diagnosis remains problematic for treatment planning because clinical symptoms usually appear late. Heat shock proteins appear to play an important role in patients with bronchial carcinoma. Heat shock proteins are small proteins with different molecular weights that are overexpressed in stressed cells. They are believed to have various functions including protection immune stimulation and anti-apoptotic effects in degenerated cells. Increased expression of heat shock proteins has been observed in the lungs after both radiation therapy and systematic chemotherapy. In this study increased expression of heat shock proteins was found in the bronchial lavage of all tumor patients. Only qualitative differences in the expression behavior of these proteins were found but no quantitative differences.