Studies and Therapeutic Targeting of Heat Shock Proteins in Lung Cancer

Funded equally by LUNGevity Foundation, American Lung Association of Metropolitan Chicago, American Lung Association National Office, and the family of Harriet Meyers
Ravi Salgia, MD, PhD
University of Chicago
Chicago

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are a class of proteins that are central to the survival of cells, in particular those under stress. Inhibiting HSPs makes cells very sensitive to cell death under stressed conditions (e.g., during chemotherapy). Dr. Salgia is studying the role of HSP27 in lung cancer to develop targeted therapies that are effective against it.