Expression of stress-response (heat-shock) protein 27 in human brain tumors: an immunohistochemical study

This report concerns the expression of the low molecular weight stress-response (heat-shock) protein 27 (srp 27) in a variety of human brain tumors. Immunohistochemical techniques were used; cells of the breast cancer line MCF7 served as positive controls. The reaction product was found exclusively in the cytoplasm. Srp 27 was detected in 5/5 breast tumor metastases to the brain and in 5/21 meningiomas. The protein was also detected in 5/11 glioblastomas and 2/5 pituitary adenomas. By comparison, positive staining was observed in only 1/15 astrocytomas and 1/7 medulloblastoma and no reaction was seen with the oligodendrogliomas, schwannomas and gangliogliomas tested. These observations demonstrate that srp 27 is expressed by certain primary intracranial tumors.