High Expression Levels Of Class Iii Beta-Tubulin In Resected Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients Are Predictive Of Improved Patient Survival After Vinorelbine-Based Adjuvant Chemotherapy

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 beta-tubulin were correlated with an improved DFS (P=0.033) and a trend towards a longer OS (P=0.226). Class II and IV beta-tubulins were not correlated with patient outcome. Multivariate analysis of factors, including gender, age, histology, stage and class II, III and IV P-tubulin expression demonstrated that high levels of class III P-tubulin expression were correlated independently with DFS (P=0.031). These findings suggest that high class III beta-tubulin expression levels in resected tumors are predictive of improved DFS in R-NSCLC patients receiving vinorelbine-based chemotherapy.