Discrimination of clinical stages in non-small cell lung cancer patients by serum HSP27 and HSP70: A multi-institutional case-control study

► Serum levels of HSP27, phospho-HSP27 and HSP70 were evaluated in 4 study groups. ► Patients with NSCLC diagnosed at an early or advanced stage were included. ► Healthy smokers respectively healthy never-smoker volunteers served as control groups. ► HSP27 and HSP70 serum levels were elevated in patients with NSCLC. ► Statistically significant differences were found between early vs. advanced stage NSCLC.