Objective: Heat shock proteins (HSPs) play a very important role in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. They are produced in cells constitutively or induced under stress conditions. During carcinogenesis, HSPs have been reported to show alteration of their expression levels.
Aim of the study: The aim of the study was assessment of the concentration of HSP 27 in tumour and adjacent distal normal mucosa in colorectal adenocarcinomas.
Material and methods: Samples of tumour tissues and adjacent distal normal colon tissues were obtained during resection operations from 47 patients aged between 26-82. Average distance of adjacent distal normal mucosa from the tumour was 4.49 cm. In tissues homogenate total protein level and concentration of HSP 27 were assayed. The patients were grouped according to clinical classification (Duke's staging), grade of differentiation, localization, and size of tumour, as well as age and sex. Relation between adjacent distal normal mucosa collected in different distances from the tumour and compared to concentration of HSP 27 was analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed.
Results: The concentration of HSP 27 was significantly increased in adjacent distal normal tissues compared with tumour tissues. Moreover, the concentration of HSP 27 was increased in adjacent normal tissues in patients with CD Duke's staging compared to patients with AB Duke's staging. No differences in concentration of HSP 27 between tumour and normal tissues compared with grade of differentiation, localization, and size oftumour, as well as age and sex were observed. No relation between adjacent distal normal mucosa collected in different distances from the tumour and compared to concentration of HSP 27 was observed.
Conclusions: The higher concentration of HSP 27 in adjacent distal normal mucosa can be a response to stress factors related with metabolic changes of cancer tissues or can be a protective function to stress factors of the tumour.