ObjectiveTo investigate the expression of heat shock proteins 90α(HSP90α) in human hepatocellular carcinoma and the relationship between its expression and biologic behavior of tumor and prognosis. MethodsUsing the immunohistochemical SP method, HSP90α expression was detected in liver tissue from 10 normal individuals, 40 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) and adjacent noncancerous liver tissues. ResultsThe positive expression rate of HSP90α was 10.0%,52.5%,72.5% in normal liver tissues,adjacent noncancerous liver tissues,hepatocellular carcinous tissues respectively. A significantly higher distribution of HSP90α positive expression in HCC tissues compared with adjacent noncancerous liver tissues and normal liver tissues was obtained （P＜0.05）. The positive expression of HSP90α in HCC was correlated with clinical stage, tumor differentiation, serosal condition and lymph node metastasis （P＜0.05）, but not to tumor number （P＞0.05）. It was also correlated with prognosis of HCC. The mean tumorfree survival of patients with HSP90α negative expression was 38.6 months while that of HSP90α positive expression was 25.5 months （P＜0.05）. ConclusionHSP90α is overexpressed in human hepatocellular carcinoma. HSP90α could be used as an indicator to judge the clinical stage, tumor differentiation, serosal condition, lymph node metastasis and prognosis of HCC.
ObjectiveTo investigate the inhibitory effect of heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) inhibitors of 17-propylene amino-17-demethoxy geldanamycin (17-AAG) combining with paclitaxel on human anaplastic thyroid cancer FRO cell line. Method①The proliferation inhibition rates of FRO cells were detected by mmethyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay in different concentration groups (17-AAG: 0.312 5, 0.625 0, 1.2500, 2.5000, and 5.0000 μmol/L; paclitaxel: 0.001 0, 0.0100, 0.1000, and 1.0000 μmol/L; combination group, 17-AAG: 0.625 0 μmol/L, paclitaxel: 0.001 0, 0.0100, 0.1000, and 1.0000 μmol/L) and at different time points (24, 48, and 72 hours). ②The change of cell cycle and apoptosis rates of FRO cells were detected in 17-AAG group (0.625 0 μmol/L), paclitaxel group (0.1000 μmol/L), and combination group (17-AAG: 0.625 0 μmol/L, paclitaxel: 0.1000 μmol/L) by flow cytometry at 24 hours after treatment. ③activity of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 in FRO cells of 17-AAG group (0.625 0 μmol/L), paclitaxel group (0.1000 μmol/L), and combination group (17-AAG: 0.625 0 μmol/L, paclitaxel: 0.1000 μmol/L) was detected by Caspase-3 detection reagent box and Caspase-9 detection reagent box respectively. FRO cells of normal control group were treated without any drug, but culture solution. Results①The proliferation inhibition rates of FRO cells increased with the increase of concentra-tion (17-AAG, paclitaxel, combination of 17-AAG and paclitaxel), there was significant difference between any 2 groups (normal control group included), P<0.05. In addition, the proliferation inhibition rates of FRO cells in any concentration group (normal control group excluded) increased over time (24, 48, and 72 hours), there was significant difference between any 2 time points (P<0.05). The proliferation inhibition rates of FRO cells in combination group were all higher than those of 17-AAG group and paclitaxel group in condition of same time point and same concentration (P<0.05). The q value of combination group was higher than 1.15 at 3 time points in all concentration, that meant 17-AAG could increase the efficiency of paclitaxel. ②The apoptosis rate of FRO cells in normal control group was lower than those of 17-AAG group, paclitaxel group, and combination group (P<0.05), and apoptosis rate of FRO cells in combination group was higher than those of 17-AAG group and paclitaxel group (P<0.05). ③Activity of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 of FRO cells in normal control group were lower than those of 17-AAG group, paclitaxel group, and combination group (P<0.05), and activity of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 of FRO cells in combination group were higher than those of 17-AAG group and paclitaxel group (P<0.05). Conclusions17-AAG and paclitaxel can significantly inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of FRO cells. The combination of the two kinds of drugs may generate synergy, with dose-dependence effect.