Chaperonin Hsp60 and Cancer Therapies

Introduction The heat shock protein 60 (Hsp60) is a chaperonin belonging to the chaperoning (chaperone) system that typically contributes to protein homeostasis inside mitochondria, but also plays various non-canonical roles unrelated to protein quality control beyond the organelle. Chaperonopathies are disorders in which chaperones play an etiologic-pathogenic role and contribute to the onset/progression of disease. Hsp60 chaperonopathies by mistake are diseases in which the chaperonin is apparently normal (as far as it can be determined with current methodologies) but it actively contributes to pathology, for example in certain types of cancer, and autoimmune and chronic inflammatory disorders. In certain cancers, Hsp60 is associated with the onset of malignancy and metastasization, although the mechanisms are poorly understood. In this chapter, we summarize findings on Hsp60 quantitative changes and distribution alterations in cells and tissues accompanying tumor initiation and progression. We also discuss the potential of HSP60-based anti-cancer therapies that are currently being investigated.