Significant relationship between preoperative serum concentration of anti-heat shock protein 70 antibody and postoperative morbidity in patients with esophageal cancer

Background Heat shock protein 70 is a molecular chaperone important in host responses to stress, including infection, injury, oxidative damage, hypoxia, and thermal stress. This study analyzed the correlation between preoperative serum concentrations of anti-HPS70 antibody and postoperative morbidity in patients with esophageal cancer. Materials and methods Serum samples were obtained preoperatively from 50 esophageal carcinoma patients (46 men and 4 women) who underwent potentially curative surgery without preoperative therapy. Serum anti-HSP70 antibody concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results The mean concentration of anti-HSP70 antibody was 187.0 mu g/mL. When patients were dichotomized relative to this cutoff, we observed no significant relationships between perioperative inflammatory markers (maximum body temperature, white blood cell count and C-reactive protein concentration) and anti-HSP70 antibody concentration. The incidence of postoperative complications was significantly lower in patients with anti-HSP >= 187.0 mu g/mL than < 187.0 mu g/mL (p = 0.0336). Conclusions Preoperative serum concentration of anti-HSP70 antibody was significantly related to postoperative morbidities in patients with esophageal cancer.