Targeting HSP70-induced thermotolerance for design of thermal sensitizers

Thermal therapy has been shown to be an extremely powerful anti-cancer agent and a potent radiation sensitizer. However, the full potential of thermal therapy is hindered by a number of considerations including highly conserved heat resistance pathways in tumour cells and inhomogeneous heating of deep-seated tumours due to energy deposition and perfusion issues. This report reviews recent progress in the development of hyperthermia sensitizing drugs designed to specifically amplify the effects of hyperthermia. Such agents might be particularly useful in situations where heating is not adequate for the full biological effect or is not homogeneously delivered to tumours. The particular pathway concentrated on is thermotolerance, a complex, inducible cellular response that leads to heat resistance. This paper will concentrate on the molecular pathways of thermotolerance induction for designing inhibitors of heat resistance/thermal sensitizers, which may allow the full potential of thermal therapy to be utilized.