Expression of the small heat shock protein (hsp) 27 in human astrocytomas correlates with histologic grades and tumor growth fractions.

1. Cellular expression and distribution of the stress response small heat shock protein 27 (hsp27) in 39 high-grade astrocytomas (27 glioblastoma multiformes, 12 anaplastic astrocytomas) and in 27 low-grade astrocytomas (grade I-II) were analyzed immunohistochemically. 2. The correlation between hsp27 expression and tumor growth fractions of the astrocytomas was examined following Ki-67 immunostaining. 3. The hsp27 staining was cell cytoplasmic. The hsp27 immunopositive rate was significantly higher in high-grade astrocytomas; the rates was 74% for glioblastomas, 58% for anaplastic astrocytomas, and 37% for low-grade astrocytomas. The small and large tumor cells, especially in glioblastomas, multinucleated tumor giant cells, tumor cells in the pseudopalisading and necrotic areas, cells of the microvascular endothelial proliferations, and tumor vascular smooth muscles were usually hsp27 positive. The mean percentage of hsp27-positive cells was significantly higher in the glioblastomas alone and in the combined high-grade astrocytomas, compared to the low-grade, and in recurrent rather than in primary high-grade astrocytomas. 4. The high-grade astrocytomas had a highly statistical significant Ki-67 labeling index. The Ki-67 labeling indices were significantly higher in the hsp27-positive than the hsp27-negative astrocytomas, irrespective of the histological grade. In the high-grade astrocytomas with a Ki-67 labeling index of five and above, 81% of those tumors were hsp27 positive. 5. Thus, a large number of human astrocytomas express hsp27, and hsp27 expression correlates with histological grades of astrocytoma and with tumor growth fractions. This being the case, hsp27 is likely to have a role in the growth of human astrocytomas.