Heat Shock Protein 70 and 90 Family in Prostate Cancer

Abstract

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most frequent cancer that affects aging men worldwide. However, its exact pathogenesis has not been fully elucidated. The heat shock protein (HSP) family has cell-protective properties that may promote tumor growth and protect cancer cells from death. On a cellular level, HSP molecules have a strong relationship with multiple important biological processes, such as cell differentiation, epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), and fibrosis. Because of the facilitation of HSP family molecules on tumorigenesis, a number of agents and inhibitors are being developed with potent antitumor effects whose target site is the critical structure of HSP molecules. Among all target molecules, HSP70 family and HSP90 are two groups that have been well studied, and therefore, the development of their inhibitors makes great progress. Only a small number of agents, however, have been clinically tested in recruited patients. As a result, more clinical studies are warranted for the establishment of the relationship between the HSP70 family, alongside the HSP90 molecule, and prostate cancer treatment.