Heat-Shock Proteins in Leukemia and Lymphoma: Multitargets for Innovative Therapeutic Approaches

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Heat-shock proteins (HSPs) are molecular chaperones overexpressed in tumor cells and are necessary for their survival. In leukemia and lymphoma, HSPs have been reported to have unique cytoprotective effects on different cell death and growth pathways. In this review, we describe the implication of HSPs in those pathways in hematological malignancies and discuss the pertinence of detecting and targeting them for future innovative treatment strategies. ABSTRACT: Heat-shock proteins (HSPs) are powerful chaperones that provide support for cellular functions under stress conditions but also for the homeostasis of basic cellular machinery. All cancer cells strongly rely on HSPs, as they must continuously adapt to internal but also microenvironmental stresses to survive. In solid tumors, HSPs have been described as helping to correct the folding of misfolded proteins, sustain oncogenic pathways, and prevent apoptosis. Leukemias and lymphomas also overexpress HSPs, which are frequently associated with resistance to therapy. HSPs have therefore been proposed as new therapeutic targets. Given the specific biology of hematological malignancies, it is essential to revise their role in this field, providing a more adaptable and comprehensive picture that would help design future clinical trials. To that end, this review will describe the different pathways and functions regulated by HSP27, HSP70, HSP90, and, not least, HSP110 in leukemias and lymphomas.