The inducible Hsp70 as a marker of tumor immunogenicity

Growing evidence indicates that the stress response in general and heat sho ck proteins (Hsps) in particular have a profound impact on tumor immunogeni city. In this study, we show that tumor cells subjected to a nonlethal heat shock stress are unable to form tumors in syngenic mice, whereas they do s o in athymic nude mice. Moreover, heat-shocked MethA immunity is tumor spec ific. Enhancement of T-cell-mediated immunogenicity correlates with the exp ression of the inducible Hsp70 but not the constitutive Hsc70. These observ ations have a bearing on the proposed functional role of Hsp-peptide associ ation in antigen processing and presentation by major histocompatibility co mplex I molecules under normal and stressful conditions.