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Updated: Mar 9, 2026
Malachite Green Assay for the Discovery of Heat-Shock Protein 90 Inhibitors
Published on: January 20, 2023
Heat shock proteins HSP90, HSP70 and GRP78 expression in medullary thyroid carcinoma
Ethan Soudry1, Sagit Stern Shavit1, Britta Hardy2
1Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Beilinson Campus, Petah Tiqwa, Israel; Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Background:
Medullary thyroid carcinoma management consists mainly of surgical resection and is largely chemoresistant. There is ongoing effort to discover novel therapies for medullary thyroid carcinoma. Increased levels of heat shock proteins have been associated with multiple cancers and are being studied as potential therapeutic targets. The purpose of this study was to determine the expression levels of heat shock proteins 90 and 70 and of glucose related protein 78 in medullary thyroid carcinoma tissues compared with normal thyroid tissues.
Methods:
20 tissue specimens of medullary thyroid carcinoma and 10 specimens of thyroids without malignancy were analyzed by immunohistochemistry.
Results:
Medullary thyroid carcinoma specimens showed 27% higher expression level of heat shock protein 90 immunostaining, and a 43% higher expression level of heat shock protein 70 immunostaining versus normal controls. These differences, however, were not statistically significant. A significantly higher expression level was noted for glucose related protein 78 in the medullary thyroid carcinoma specimens than in the controls.
Conclusion:
This study indicates increased expression levels of heat shock proteins 90 and 70 and glucose related protein 78 levels in medullary thyroid carcinoma. These findings, though preliminary imply that these proteins may have a role in medullary thyroid carcinoma's tumor biology and may have and future therapeutic options. Larger cohorts are needed to corroborate these results.
Insights
Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) shows higher levels of heat shock proteins 90 and 70, and glucose-related protein 78. These proteins may offer future therapeutic targets for MTC treatment.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) management relies on surgery and is chemoresistant.
- Novel therapeutic strategies for MTC are under investigation.
- Elevated heat shock proteins (HSPs) are implicated in various cancers and are potential therapeutic targets.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify and compare the expression levels of HSP90, HSP70, and glucose-related protein 78 (GRP78) in MTC tissues versus normal thyroid tissues.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry was utilized to analyze protein expression.
- Tissue samples included 20 MTC specimens and 10 non-malignant thyroid specimens.
Main Results:
- MTC tissues exhibited higher HSP90 (27%) and HSP70 (43%) expression compared to controls, though not statistically significant.
- A statistically significant increase in GRP78 expression was observed in MTC specimens relative to normal thyroid tissues.
Conclusions:
- Preliminary findings suggest elevated expression of HSP90, HSP70, and GRP78 in MTC.
- These proteins may play a role in MTC tumor biology.
- Further research with larger patient cohorts is necessary to validate these findings and explore therapeutic potential.
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