Class III beta-tubulin expression in tumor cells is correlated with resistance to docetaxel in patients with completely resected non-small-cell lung cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the relationship between in vitro chemosensitivity evaluated by the histoculture drug response assay (HDRA) and the expression of beta-tubulin isotypes in tumors of patients with completely resected NSCLC in order to determine the predictive value of beta-tubulin in chemotherapy for NSCLC.


METHODS
Expression of beta-tubulin isotypes was immunohistochemically analyzed in a series of 58 tumor samples from patients with completely resected NSCLC. The sensitivity of individual tumors to anticancer agents was evaluated by HDRA.


RESULTS
Class III beta-tubulin expression by tumor cells was significantly correlated with resistance to docetaxel (p=0.0250), but not related with resistance to gemcitabine. Patient characteristics (age, gender, histology, and stage) were not associated with class III beta-tubulin expression.


CONCLUSIONS
An abundance of class III beta-tubulin in tumor cells could be a biomarker for resistance to docetaxel in patients with completely resected NSCLC.
Hayashi
Yoshiki
Y
Division of Respiratory Medicine, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Japan.
Kuriyama
Hideyuki
H
Umezu
Hajime
H
Tanaka
Junta
J
Yoshimasu
Tatsuya
T
Furukawa
Tomoko
T
Tanaka
Hiroshi
H
Kagamu
Hiroshi
H
Gejyo
Fumitake
F
Yoshizawa
Hirohisa
H
D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000077143:Docetaxel; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D043823:Taxoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014404:Tubulin / Q000378:metabolism*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D043823:Taxoids; D014404:Tubulin; D000077143:Docetaxel