title: Expression of ERCC1, p53, and class III β-tubulin do not reveal chemoresistance in endometrial cancer: results from an immunohistochemical study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In non-small cell lung cancer, expression of excision repair cross-complementation group 1 (ERCC1) and p53 correlates with platinum resistance and class III β-tubulin with resistance to taxanes. The potential to personalize treatment in endometrial cancer remains uninvestigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients received platinum-based chemotherapy, with or without paclitaxel. Patients were divided into 2 groups: group A (n = 33) consisted of patients with early-stage endometrial cancer treated with adjuvant chemotherapy. Group B (n = 116) included cases with primary advanced or recurrent disease. Immunohistochemistry was performed to analyze the expression of ERCC1 and p53, for all cases, and class III β-tubulin for cases treated with paclitaxel. The findings were correlated with response according to Response Criteria in Solid Tumors; recurrence-free, disease-specific survival; and established prognostic markers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of 149 patients was 64 years (range, 31-84 years). Distribution of histopathologic subtypes was as follows: 44 endometrioid (30%), 92 serous/clear cell (62%), and 13 carcinosarcomas (8%).In group A, 11 (33%) and 19 patients (58%) showed expression for ERCC1 and p53, respectively. Seven (78%) of nine patients receiving paclitaxel were positive for class III β-tubulin. There was no correlation between expression of ERCC1, p53, or class III β-tubulin and recurrence or survival. In group B, 25 (22%) and 61 patients (64%) were positive for ERCC1 and p53, respectively. Fifty-two (74%) of seventy patients receiving paclitaxel were positive for class III β-tubulin. Only p53 expression correlated with survival (P = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In contrast to theoretical assumptions, the current study did not reveal evidence that the expression of ERCC1 and class III β-tubulin predicts response to cytotoxic treatment and patient outcome in endometrial cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, UZ Gasthuisberg, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vandenput
authors.forename: An
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Capoen
authors.forename: Lieve
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Coenegrachts
authors.forename: Godelieve
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Verbist
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moerman
authors.forename: Ignace
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vergote
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Amant
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004260:DNA Repair; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004720:Endonucleases / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014404:Tubulin / Q000378:metabolism; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C498585:TUBB3 protein, human; D014404:Tubulin; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; C071447:ERCC1 protein, human; D004720:Endonucleases; D017239:Paclitaxel