Hsp90 Structure and Function in Cancer

Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) serves an essential role in stability and function of over-expressed proteins that promote malignancy. HSP90 guides various cellular and physiological processes/functions such as cell growth, cell survival and differentiation, hormone signaling, trafficking, response to cellular stress, and apoptosis. Conversely, HSP90 during oncogenesis causes malignant transformation and is critical for the maintenance and maturation of a broad range of mutated proteins activated and/or over-expressed in signaling pathways, promoting cancer cell growth and/or survival. Therefore, HSP90 is an attractive target strategy for tumor treatment. We described HSP90 structure and function in normal cells and in malignancy.