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World J Clin Oncol. Dec 10, 2014; 5(5): 865-873
Published online Dec 10, 2014. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v5.i5.865
Tumour suppressor HLJ1: A potential diagnostic, preventive and therapeutic target in non-small cell lung cancer
Meng-Feng Tsai, Chi-Chung Wang, Jeremy JW Chen
Meng-Feng Tsai, Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Dayeh University, Changhua 51591, Taiwan
Chi-Chung Wang, Graduate Institute of Basic Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei 24205, Taiwan
Jeremy JW Chen, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Agricultural Biotechnology Center, Rong Hsing Research Center for Translational Medicine, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan
Author contributions: All authors contributed to the conception of this paper; Chen JJW conceived of the topic and revised the paper; Tsai MF reviewed the literature and drafted the paper; Wang CC reviewed the literature and revised the paper.
Supported by Grants from the National Science Council, Taiwan, ROC; in part by the Ministry of Education, Taiwan, ROC under the ATU plan
Correspondence to: Jeremy JW Chen, PhD, Professor, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Agricultural Biotechnology Center, Rong Hsing Research Center for Translational Medicine, National Chung-Hsing University, No. 250, Kuo-Kuang Road, Taichung 40227, Taiwan. jwchen@dragon.nchu.edu.tw
Telephone: +886-4-22840896 Fax: +886-4-22853469
Received: December 27, 2013
Revised: February 10, 2014
Accepted: April 16, 2014
Published online: December 10, 2014
Abstract

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality throughout the world. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 85% of all diagnosed lung cancers. Despite considerable progress in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease, the overall 5-year survival rate of NSCLC patients remains lower than 15%. The most common causes of death in lung cancer patients are treatment failure and metastasis. Therefore, developing novel strategies that target both tumour growth and metastasis is an important and urgent mission for the next generation of anticancer therapy research. Heat shock proteins (HSPs), which are involved in the fundamental defence mechanism for maintaining cellular viability, are markedly activated during environmental or pathogenic stress. HSPs facilitate rapid cell division, metastasis, and the evasion of apoptosis in cancer development. These proteins are essential players in the development of cancer and are prime therapeutic targets. In this review, we focus on the current understanding of the molecular mechanisms responsible for HLJ1’s role in lung cancer carcinogenesis and progression. HLJ1, a member of the human HSP 40 family, has been characterised as a tumour suppressor. Research studies have also reported that HLJ1 shows promising dual anticancer effects, inhibiting both tumour growth and metastasis in NSCLC. The accumulated evidence suggests that HLJ1 is a potential biomarker and treatment target for NSCLC.

Keywords: Non-small cell lung cancer, Metastasis, HLJ1, Anticancer, Biomarker

Core tip: HLJ1, a member of the human heat shock proteins 40 family, has been characterised as a tumour suppressor. Research studies have reported that HLJ1 shows promising dual anticancer effects, inhibiting both tumour growth and metastasis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The accumulated evidence suggests that HLJ1 is a potential biomarker and treatment target for NSCLC. We propose a hypothetical model for the roles of HLJ1 stimulator in suppressing lung cancer tumourigenesis. Investigating the integrated and coordinated molecular mechanisms of HLJ1 may shed new light on the treatment of lung cancer. The development of drug targeting HLJ1 may be an effective approach for lung cancer therapy.