Objective: To analyze HSP70/HSP27 protein expression in the nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) primary tissues and the residual lesion, and to explore its predictive value.
Methods: Immunohistochemical experiment was performed to detect the expression of HSP70 and HSP27 in 58 NPC primary tissues: 28 were in the experimental group with the local residual lesion and 30 in the control group without recurring and metastasis within 5 years by conventional radiotherapy.
Results: The positive expression of HSP70 and HSP27 in the experimental group was 92.9%(26/28) and 53.6%(15/28), while that in the control group was 53.3%(16/30) and 53.3%(16/30),respectively. There was significant difference in the 2 groups. The common positive expression of HSP70 and HSP27 between the 2 groups had significant difference, 50.0% (14/28) in the experimental group and 16.7% (5/30) in the control group, respectively. There was no significant difference in the negative ratio of HSP70 and HSP27 common expression between the 2 groups, 3.6% (1/28) in the experimental group and 10.0% (3/30) in the control group, respectively.
Conclusion: HSP70 may have an important role in the radioresistance of NPC, and may predict the residual lesion after radiotherapy.