HSPA6 and its role in cancers and other diseases

Heat Shock Protein Family A (Hsp70) Member 6 (HSPA6) (Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man: 140555) belongs to the HSP70 family and is a partially conserved inducible protein in mammals. The HSPA6 gene locates on the human chromosome 1q23.3 and encodes a protein containing two important structural domains: The N-terminal nucleotide-binding domain and the C-terminal substrate-binding domain. Currently, studies have found that HSPA6 not only plays a role in the tumorigenesis and tumor progresses but also causes non-tumor-related diseases. Furthermore, HSPA6 exhibits to inhibit tumorigenesis and tumor progression in some types of cancers but promotes in others. Even though HSPA6 research has increased, its exact roles and mechanisms are still unclear. This article reviews the structure, expression, function, research progress, possible mechanism, and perspective of HSPA6 in cancers and other diseases, highlighting its potential role as a targeted therapeutic and prognostic marker.