High expression levels of class III β‑tubulin in resected non‑small cell lung cancer patients are predictive of improved patient survival after vinorelbine‑based adjuvant chemotherapy
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- Published online on: April 29, 2013 https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2013.1323
- Pages: 220-226
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Abstract
The aim of the present study was to determine the frequency and predictive value of the expression of tumor microtubule components in patients with resected non‑small cell lung cancer (R‑NSCLC) subsequently treated with vinorelbine‑based adjuvant chemotherapy. The expression of the microtubule components was evaluated in 85 R‑NSCLC tumor samples using immunohistochemistry. All patients received vinorelbine‑based chemotherapy. The predictive value of microtubule protein expression for disease‑free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) was assessed. The expression of the microtubule components was not associated with any baseline clinicopathological factors in the R‑NSCLC patients. High tumor expression levels of class III β‑tubulin were correlated with an improved DFS (P=0.033) and a trend towards a longer OS (P=0.226). Class II and IV β‑tubulins were not correlated with patient outcome. Multivariate analysis of factors, including gender, age, histology, stage and class II, III and IV β‑tubulin expression demonstrated that high levels of class III β‑tubulin expression were correlated independently with DFS (P=0.031). These findings suggest that high class III β‑tubulin expression levels in resected tumors are predictive of improved DFS in R‑NSCLC patients receiving vinorelbine‑based chemotherapy.
