Background：HSPB1, also known as heat shock protein 27(Hsp27), belongs to the small heat shock protein family which is induced in response to environmental challenges or/and developmental transitions. It is also an anti-apoptotic protein that plays crucial roles in tumorigenesis and cell survival and is reported to be an independent prognosis marker for cancer. Recently HSPB1 has been found to be a valuable marker for melanoma. In addition to the predicted 27 kDa, an extra 50-55 kDa representing dimeric form of HSPB1 may also be observed.(21353161)
