Resumen de Expression of γ-tubulin in non-small cell lung cancer and effect on patient survival
Nicoletta F. Maounis, Eduarda Dráberová, Nikos Trakas, Maria Chorti, Dimitra Riga, Kimon Tzannis, Meletis Kanakis, Kirtanaa Voralu, Eleni Ellina, Eleni Mahera, Maria Demonakou, Achilleas Lioulias, Pavel Dráber, C. D. Katsetos
Introduction. It has been reported that overexpression and altered compartmentalization of γ- tubulin may contribute to tumorigenesis and tumor aggressiveness in a variety of human malignancies. We have shown that γ-tubulin expression and cellular distribution pattern is also altered in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (Histol. Histopathol. 2012; 27: 1183- 1194). In the present study we examined the relationship between γ-tubulin expression and patient overall survival (OS). Material and methods. Immunohistochemistry was performed, with well-characterized anti-γ-tubulin antibodies, on 109 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded NSCLC specimens (p-TNM stage IIII).
γ-Tubulin labeling indexes (LIs) were determined, and the association of γ-tubulin expression with clinicopathological parameters was evaluated. To analyze OS rates according to γ-tubulin LIs, patients were categorized into three groups: those with low (0- 30%), intermediate (31-69%) or high (70-100%) γ- tubulin LI. Association of clinicopathological parameters and γ-tubulin with survival were examined using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis.
Results. No statistically significant association was seen between γ-tubulin overexpression and histological type, tumor differentiation, p-TNM stage and adenocarcinoma subtyping. Longer survival was observed in the high γ- tubulin LI group of patients with p-TNM stages II+III when compared to intermediate or low γ-tubulin LI groups, but the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.066). On the other hand, when combined low and intermediate γ-tubulin LI groups (p-TNM stages II+III) where compared to high γ-tubulin LI group, statistically significant longer survival was observed in high γ- tubulin group (p=0.021). Conclusion. Our findings suggest that level of γ-tubulin expression may have an impact on patient survival at more advanced NSCLC stages.
