HSPB6: A Potential Prognostic Biomarker, Inhibiting the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) Process Through the PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway Based on the Machine Learning and Experimental Validation.

Bladder cancer (BC) is a prevalent malignant tumor worldwide, posing a significant public health burden and challenge to human society. Current therapeutic modalities for BC include surgical treatment, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunosuppressive therapy. However, almost all patients experience disease progression and ultimately succumb to BC. Our study demonstrated that elevated expression of Heat Shock Protein Beta-6 (HSPB6) correlated with higher clinical grades and stages, establishing it as an independent prognostic risk factor for BC. Enrichment analysis indicated that HSPB6 is associated with the extracellular matrix in BC. Experimental validation revealed that HSPB6 overexpression inhibits the proliferation of BC cell line T24. This effect may be achieved by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, which in turn leads to inhibition of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Furthermore, we developed a prognostic risk model that incorporated DDR2, DPYSL3, MFAP5, PDGFRB, and SPOCD1, allowing accurate prediction of patient outcomes based on immunological status. In conclusion, this study highlights that HSPB6 overexpression can restrain the proliferation of BC cells and inhibit EMT, underscoring its potential as a diagnostic marker and therapeutic target in BC.