Potential predictive value of plasma heat shock protein 90 alpha in lung cancer

Objective: Heat shock protein 90 alpha (HSP90 alpha) is associated with cancer development, progression, and metastasis. This study assessed the relationships of plasma HSP90 alpha levels with treatment efficacy and prognosis in lung cancer. Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, 231 patients with lung cancer were enrolled from 1 September 2016 to 31 December 2019. HSP90 alpha levels were measured before and after treatment, and their relationships with outcomes were assessed. Results: Patients with elevated HSP90 alpha levels before treatment had a better overall response rate (ORR, 44.1% vs. 30.6%), whereas the disease control rate did not differ between patients with elevated and normal HSP90 alpha levels (81% vs. 78.5%). Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 6.9 months in patients with elevated baseline HSP90 alpha levels, versus 9 months in patients with normal HSP90 alpha levels, whereas the median overall survival (OS) times in these groups were 12 and 14.1 months, respectively. Concerning HSP90 alpha levels after treatment, ORR (20% vs. 47.1%) and DCR (67.3% vs. 90.9%) were lower in patients with increased HSP90 alpha levels, and PFS and OS were also significantly different between the groups. Conclusions: HSP90 alpha levels before and after treatment were associated with treatment response and patient prognosis in lung cancer.