UP-REGULATION OF HEAT-SHOCK-PROTEIN-70 IN ADENOCARCINOMAS OF THE LUNGIN SMOKERS

Tumour samples of smokers (n = 32) and nonsmokers (n = 21) with previo usly untreated adenocarcinomas of the lung were analysed, immunohistoc hemically, for expression of the heat shock protein 70 (hsp70). A corr elation between smoking habits and expression of hsp70 was found. Of t he tumours from the 21 non-smokers 12 (57%) and of the 32 smokers 24 r umours (75%) showed high hsp70 expression. The expression of hsp70 dep ended on the number of cigarettes smoked daily. Of the patients who sm oked more than 20 cigarettes, 16 out of 18 had tumours with a high hsp 70 expression (89%; p = 0.028).