The evaluation of the HSP70 and TCP1 status of circulating tumor cells derived from metastatic colorectal cancer patients

Dilek Pirim; Berkcan Dogan; Fatih Atilla Bağcı; Özgen Işık; Türkkan Evrensel

The evaluation of the HSP70 and TCP1 status of circulating tumor cells derived from metastatic colorectal cancer patients

Abstract

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are novel biomarkers for liquid biopsy, emerging as a promising research area for colorectal cancer (CRC) management. However, the heterogeneity of CTC phenotypes poses a significant challenge for their reliable detection in blood. The heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and chaperonin-containing TCP1 (TCP1) have crucial roles in cancer pathogenesis, but their clinical value for CTC characterization remains unknown. We assessed the expression status of the HSP70 and TCP1 in CRC-derived CTCs to evaluate their biomarker potential for CTC identification. Peripheral blood samples were collected from metastatic CRC (mCRC) patients. The enrichments of CTCs were performed by the AdnaTest protocol, and the expression status of the HSP70 and TCP1 was analyzed using PCR-based analysis. Additionally, we analyzed the correlations between these genes and CRC-specific markers (CEA, EGFR, and EpCAM) along with clinicopathological characteristics. HSP70 positivity was observed in 55.32% of mCRC patients, and TCP1 positivity was detected in only 6 samples. Nine samples that were negative for CRC-specific markers showed expressions of HSP70 and TCP1. Notably, no TCP1 positivity was seen in individuals who received more than five systematic treatments. Overall, this study highlights the importance of expanding CTC biomarker panels beyond conventional markers to capture the full spectrum of tumor cell diversity in circulation. Integrating novel molecular markers such as HSP70 and TCP1 may improve the sensitivity of CTC-based diagnostics and facilitate personalized monitoring of disease progression and treatment response in CRC patients.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Bursa Uludag University

Project Number

This research was funded by Bursa Uludag University Scientific Research Unit, Türkiye (Grant No: FHIZ-2023-1466 and FOA-2021-625).

Ethical Statement

All protocols were approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the Bursa Uludag University (Approval date: 14.02.2023, Approval no: 2023-3/39) and conducted following the relevant ethical guidelines/regulations as specified by the Declaration of Helsinki. Each participant gave informed consent before sample collection.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Cancer Genetics, Cancer Cell Biology, Cancer Diagnosis, Medical Biotechnology Diagnostics

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Dilek Pirim ^*
0000-0002-0522-9432
Türkiye

Berkcan Dogan
0000-0001-8061-8131
Türkiye

Fatih Atilla Bağcı
0009-0003-5158-1757
Türkiye

Özgen Işık
0000-0002-9541-5034
Türkiye

Türkkan Evrensel
0000-0002-9732-5340
Türkiye

Publication Date

December 31, 2025

Submission Date

June 10, 2025

Acceptance Date

September 18, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 42 Number: 4

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA88TC33WU

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Pirim, D., Dogan, B., Bağcı, F. A., Işık, Ö., & Evrensel, T. (2025). The evaluation of the HSP70 and TCP1 status of circulating tumor cells derived from metastatic colorectal cancer patients. Deneysel Ve Klinik Tıp Dergisi, 42(4), 417-422. https://izlik.org/JA88TC33WU

AMA

1.Pirim D, Dogan B, Bağcı FA, Işık Ö, Evrensel T. The evaluation of the HSP70 and TCP1 status of circulating tumor cells derived from metastatic colorectal cancer patients. J. Exp. Clin. Med. 2025;42(4):417-422. https://izlik.org/JA88TC33WU

Chicago

Pirim, Dilek, Berkcan Dogan, Fatih Atilla Bağcı, Özgen Işık, and Türkkan Evrensel. 2025. “The Evaluation of the HSP70 and TCP1 Status of Circulating Tumor Cells Derived from Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients”. Deneysel Ve Klinik Tıp Dergisi 42 (4): 417-22. https://izlik.org/JA88TC33WU.

EndNote

Pirim D, Dogan B, Bağcı FA, Işık Ö, Evrensel T (December 1, 2025) The evaluation of the HSP70 and TCP1 status of circulating tumor cells derived from metastatic colorectal cancer patients. Deneysel ve Klinik Tıp Dergisi 42 4 417–422.

IEEE

[1]D. Pirim, B. Dogan, F. A. Bağcı, Ö. Işık, and T. Evrensel, “The evaluation of the HSP70 and TCP1 status of circulating tumor cells derived from metastatic colorectal cancer patients”, J. Exp. Clin. Med., vol. 42, no. 4, pp. 417–422, Dec. 2025, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA88TC33WU

ISNAD

Pirim, Dilek - Dogan, Berkcan - Bağcı, Fatih Atilla - Işık, Özgen - Evrensel, Türkkan. “The Evaluation of the HSP70 and TCP1 Status of Circulating Tumor Cells Derived from Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients”. Deneysel ve Klinik Tıp Dergisi 42/4 (December 1, 2025): 417-422. https://izlik.org/JA88TC33WU.

JAMA

1.Pirim D, Dogan B, Bağcı FA, Işık Ö, Evrensel T. The evaluation of the HSP70 and TCP1 status of circulating tumor cells derived from metastatic colorectal cancer patients. J. Exp. Clin. Med. 2025;42:417–422.

MLA

Pirim, Dilek, et al. “The Evaluation of the HSP70 and TCP1 Status of Circulating Tumor Cells Derived from Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients”. Deneysel Ve Klinik Tıp Dergisi, vol. 42, no. 4, Dec. 2025, pp. 417-22, https://izlik.org/JA88TC33WU.

Vancouver

1.Dilek Pirim, Berkcan Dogan, Fatih Atilla Bağcı, Özgen Işık, Türkkan Evrensel. The evaluation of the HSP70 and TCP1 status of circulating tumor cells derived from metastatic colorectal cancer patients. J. Exp. Clin. Med. [Internet]. 2025 Dec. 1;42(4):417-22. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA88TC33WU