Hsp90 Inhibitor STA9090 induced VPS35 related extracellular vesicle release and metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma

•VPS35 involved in the EVs formation, delivery and secretion process induced by N-terminal Hsp90 inhibitor STA9090 but not C-terminal Hsp90 inhibitor NB and promoted HCC invasion.•Bclaf1 upregulated VPS35 transcription through bZIP DNA binding domain, and upregulation of VPS35 and Bclaf1 levels positively correlates with poorer prognosis and metastasis in HCC.•HSF1 positively correlated with Bclaf1 levels.•Hsp90 inhibitor STA9090 induced EVs promote invasion and metastasis by HSF1-Bclaf1-VPS35-EVs axis in hepatocellular carcinoma.•Bclaf1 down-regulation alleviates Hsp90 inhibitor STA9090 induced VPS35 related extracellular vesicle release and invasion.