HSPA2 Expression Predicts Early Postsurgical Relapse and Promotes Tumor Cell Migration and Invasion in Pancreatic Cancer

Abstract Background: Heat shock protein A2 (HSPA2) is known to relate to the pathogenesis and progress of cancer. This study aimed to investigate the connection between HSPA2 and early postsurgical relapse, and the influences of HSPA2 on cell biological behaviors in pancreatic cancer (PC). Methods: Expression of HSPA2 in cancerous and noncancerous samples was determined by bioinformatics and immunostaining methods. The significance of HSPA2 expression in predicting early postsurgical recurrence was assessed. The biological role and potential mechanisms of HSPA2 in PC progression were uncovered by enrichment analysis. HSPA2 expression in human PC cells was detected by immunoblotting. Silencing of HSPA2 in BxPC-3 cells and upregulation of HSPA2 in PANC-1 cells were achieved with siRNA and overexpression plasmid, respectively, and then the impacts of HSPA2 downregulation and upregulation on cancer cell biological behaviors were estimated. Results: HSPA2 expression in tumor specimens was markedly elevated compared with nontumor specimens. HSPA2 overexpression could independently predict early postsurgical recurrence, and combined with malignant clinicopathological characteristics had greater predictive power and potential application value. Enrichment analysis revealed that HSPA2 expression was closely associated with PC progression. HSPA2 was expressed in BxPC-3, PANC-1 and SW1990 cells, with the highest and lowest levels in BxPC-3 and PANC-1 cells, respectively. Cell migration and invasion abilities were remarkably restrained in HSPA2-silenced BxPC-3 cells and significantly enhanced in HSPA2-overexpressed PANC-1 cells. Conclusion: HSPA2 expression predicts early postoperative recurrence and promotes cell migration and invasion, and is expected to become a useful molecular target of antitumor treatment in PC.