title: Is class III beta-tubulin a true predictive marker of sensitivity to vinorelbine in non-small cell lung cancer? Chemosensitivity data evidence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To clarify whether class III β-tubulin (TUBB3) is a true predictive marker for chemotherapy with vinorelbine, chemosensitivity was examined using an in vitro drug sensitivity assay.
  
  
  METHODS
  Initially, 9 specimens were obtained to analyze the dose-response curve and to measure the median effective dose 50 (ED(50)) in the histoculture drug response assay (HDRA). Subsequently, 68 surgically resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) specimens were applied to the HDRA and H-scores were calculated by immunohistochemical staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean (±SD) slope factor, ED(50) and maximal response was 8.7±5.4, 39.0±17.9 μg/ml and 85.5±5.1% respectively. The mean inhibition rate was 26.4±16.2% and the mean H-score was 1.09±1.07. The inhibition rate was significantly correlated with TUBB3 expression (r=0.27, p=0.03), and was significantly higher in TUBB3-positive specimens than in TUBB3-negative specimens (p=0.003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tumors with high TUBB3 levels exhibited greater chemosensitivity to vinorelbine than tumors with low TUBB3 levels. This finding provides support for the results of the JBR.10 trial.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama 641-8509, Japan. mitsu@mail.wakayama-med.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yoshimitsu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hirai
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshimasu
authors.forename: Shoji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oura
authors.forename: Fuminori
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ota
authors.forename: Koma
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Naito
authors.forename: Haruka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nishiguchi
authors.forename: Sayoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: Yoshitaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okamura
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D054316:Biomarkers, Pharmacological / Q000378:metabolism*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014404:Tubulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077235:Vinorelbine
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D054316:Biomarkers, Pharmacological; C498585:TUBB3 protein, human; D014404:Tubulin; D014747:Vinblastine; D000077235:Vinorelbine