Transcriptional profiling of human breast cancer cell lines

In an experimental model of tumor dormancy, heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) was up-regulated in angiogenic human breast cancer cells when compared with non-angiogenic cells. Stable down-regulation of HSP27 in angiogenic tumor cells was followed by long-term tumor dormancy in vivo and associated with reduced intra-tumoral endothelial cell proliferation, decreased secretion of VEGF and bFGF from tumor cells, and increased expression of thrombospondin-1. Phosphorylation of the transcription factor STAT3 and nuclear expression of NFκB were reduced following suppression of HSP27. In contrast, tumor cell proliferation and apoptosis were not affected. By clinical validation, high HSP27 expression was associated with markers of aggressive tumors and decreased survival in breast cancer and melanoma patients. Our present findings suggest a link between HSP27 and dormancy through tumor-vascular interactions. Targeting HSP27, a multifunctional cytoprotective protein, might offer a novel strategy in cancer treatment.