Can the Lack of HSP90alpha Protein in Brain Normal Tissue and Cell Lines, Rationalise It As a Possible Therapeutic Target for Gliomas?

Despite studies suggesting a role for HSP90alpha in tumorigenesis, there are no reports as to its expression in normal human brain tissue. In this study, the expression of HSP90alpha was evaluated in both cell lines (3 gliomas and 2 controls) and brain tissue specimens of 10 patients (8 gliomas and 2 normal brain tissues). No HSP90alpha protein was detected in either normal cell lines or normal brain tissue. However, 8/8 glioma tissues and 3/3 glioma cell lines did express HSP90alpha. These findings provide a rationale for targeting HSP90alpha protein as a therapeutic candidate for glioma.