Immunohistochemical analysis of FKBP51 in human cancers

FKBP51 is a FK506-binding immunophilin involved in the regulation of several fundamental biological processes. A growing body of data indicates that this protein has also a role in the abnormal cell growth of cancers, and could be considered as a promising new marker of tumor progression and response to radio/chemotherapy.However, the data concerning the expression of FKBP51 in cancer are not conclusive, and partially contradictory. They delineate a very complex scenario, in which many molecular FKBP51-related pathways are variously intersected among different tumors.This review reports the available data concerning FKBP51 expression in normal tissues and human malignancies, outlining the role of the immunohistochemical analysis as a fundamental tool for better understanding the role of this immunophilin in cancer biology.

► The immunophilin FKBP51 is differently expressed in normal human tissue and cancer.
► The role of FKBP51 in cancerogenesis is still not completely understood.
► The function of FKBP51 occurs through many intersecting molecular pathways.
► Immunohistochemistry allows a better interpretation of the FKBP51 role in cancer.
► Immunohistochemical evidence support the role of FKBP51 as a new marker of malignancy.