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.