HSP70 and ER expression in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer

Heat shock protein (HSP) is thought to play important roles in the cell cycle and various process of carcinogenesis. This study was performed to evaluate the expression of heat shock protein (HSP70) and estrogen receptor (ER) and Ki-67 and to assess relationship between them in cervical squamous cell neoplasia. The materials were 50 cervical squamous cell lesions, consisted of 30 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) (6 moderate dysplasia, 11 severe dysplasia, 13 carcinoma in situ), and 20 invasive squamous cell carcinoma (ISCC) cases. These specimens were immunohistochemically stained for HSP70, ER and Ki-67. The score of HSP70 was significantly higher in ISCC than CIN. Expression rate of the ER was not significantly higher in CIN than in ISCC. Ki-67 labelling index was significantly higher in the ISCC and high HSP70 positive staining group. These results suggested that HSP70 may play an important role in tumor cell proliferation and is related with ISCC than CIN, but ER may be not related with tumor cell proliferation and differentiation. HSP70 may be a useful prognostic factor in cervical dysplasia and cancer.