HSP-MOLECULAR CHAPERONES IN CANCER BIOGENESIS AND TUMOR THERAPY: AN OVERVIEW

Abstract

Molecular chaperones, many of which are heat-shock proteins (HSPs), are an important class of molecules with various functions. Pathological conditions in which chaperones become etiological and/or pathogenic factors are called chaperonopathies, and are classified into by defect, by excess, and by "mistake". In the latter case, the chaperone is structurally and functionally normal but paqrtecipates in pathwais that favor diseases, aòlthough in some cases the chaperone may have post-translational modifications that may lead it to change its location and function and, thus, to become pathogenic. For example, HSP-chaperones are involved in acrcinogenesis in various ways, so that some forms of cancer may be considered "chaperonopathies by mistake". This concept suggests new strategies for anticancer therapy (chaperonotherapy), in which the primary targets or therapeutic agents are choaperones. Chaperonotherapy consists of the utilization of HSP-chaperones for treating chaperonopathies, including cancer. Negative chaperonotherapy is aimed at eliminating or blocking the action of chaperones that favour carcinogenesis or other diseases, whereas positive chaperonotherapy uses chaperones, genes or proteins, to gight against dioseases, such cancer, by stimulating the immune system or the cellular defences against stress.