HSP27 as a Therapeutic Target of Novel Inhibitors and Dietary Phytochemicals in Cancer

Abstract

Heat shock proteins (HSP) are a family of evolutionary conserved proteins induced by cellular stressors. HSP are essential players in the development and progression of cancer inducing resistance to conventional treatment in a wide range of human tumors. Overexpression of HSP27, a member of HSP family, is associated with apoptosis inhibition, enhanced migration and metastasis and several clinical features of cancer including drug resistance promotion. At present, HSP27 could be a promising strategy to enhance sensitivity of tumors to cancer treatment. A plethora of novel compounds present in the diet, including flavonoids, can efficiently inhibit the growth of tumor cells by acting as natural "chemopreventers". Many works reported the efficient targeting of HSP27 by using small inhibitors and dietary natural compounds in order to enhance the effectiveness of cancer therapies. In this chapter, we reviewed the current status of treatments based in dietary components targeting HSP27 as a novel strategy to circumvent chemotherapy cytotoxicity in cancer patients. Moreover we addressed the current status of HSP27 overexpression in many types of human cancers and highlighted the prominent role of targeting HSP27 as a novel therapeutic strategy in cancer.