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Updated: Jun 13, 2026

A Computational Modeling Approach to Investigate the Influence of Hyperthermia on the Tumor Microenvironment
Published on: December 1, 2023
Heat Shock Protein translocation induced by membrane fluidization increases tumor-cell sensitivity to
Nina C Dempsey1, H Elyse Ireland, Carly M Smith
1Chester Centre for Stress Research, University of Chester, United Kingdom.
Abstract:
Treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) remains a challenge due to the frequency of drug resistance amongst patients. Improving the delivery of chemotherapeutic agents while reducing the expression of anti-apoptotic Heat Shock Proteins (HSPs) within the cancer cells may facilitate in overcoming this drug resistance. We demonstrate for the first time that sub-lethal doses of chemotherapeutic agents can be combined with membrane fluidizing treatments to produce a significant increase in drug efficacy and apoptosis in vitro. We show that fluidizers result in a transient decrease in intracellular HSPs, resulting in increased tumor-cell sensitivity and a membrane-associated induction of HSP gene expression.
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