β3-tubulin is a good predictor of sensitivity to taxane-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy in primary breast cancer

Abstract

The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between β3-tubulin expression and sensitivity to taxane-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy in primary breast cancer patients. A total of 48 local advanced breast cancer patients that received taxane-containing neoadjuvant chemotherapy were studied. The levels of β3-tubulin expression were tested by immunohistochemistry before chemotherapy and at the end of cycles 2, 4 and 6. The correlation between the efficacy of the chemotherapy and β3-tubulin expression and changes in β3-tubulin expression over the course of chemotherapy was examined. β3-tubulin protein expression before chemotherapy was significantly and negatively correlated with the response rate. The overall response rate was 31.8 % in the high β3-tubulin expression group, whereas it was 84.6 % in the low β3-tubulin expression group. At the end of cycles 2, 4 and 6 during the treatment course, the average expression rates of β3-tubulin were showed an increasing trend with β3-tubulin expression level at the end of cycle 4 being significantly different from that before chemotherapy. Nine patients that had a low β3-tubulin expression level preneoadjuvant chemotherapy changed to a high β3-tubulin expression level postneoadjuvant chemotherapy, and they had lower response rate than patients with consistent low. In conclusion, β3-tubulin is a good predictor of chemosensitivity to taxane for breast cancer, and the change of its expression level during chemotherapy may be an important cause of secondary resistance to taxane. Detection of β3-tubulin expression before and throughout the chemotherapy will help with selection of the chemotherapy treatment plan.

Biodegradable Micelles Based on Poly(ethylene glycol)-b-polylipopeptide Copolymer: A Robust and Versatile Nanoplatform for Anticancer Drug Delivery

“…In contrast, free DTX caused similar expression of apoptotic factors, including Bcl-2 and Bax, compared to PBS group, which was consistent with the relatively low therapeutic effect of free DTX. Moreover, multiple doses of DTX–cRGD-Lipep-Ms exhibited also remarkably decreased expression of β 3 tubulin, which is a marker of resistance to docetaxel in many cancers. , In comparison, DTX–Lipep-Ms, though it also led to decreased expression of Bcl-2 and β 3 tubulin, was obviously less effective than DTX–cRGD-Lipep-Ms. These results have shown that DTX–cRGD-Lipep-Ms provide a robust and efficient platform for targeted treatment of α v β 3 receptor-overexpressing malignancies.…”

Influence of Paclitaxel and Doxorubicin Therapy of ßIII-Tubulin, Carbonic Anhydrase IX, and Survivin in Chemically Induced Breast Cancer in Female Rat

“…In addition, it can control the cell cycle and thereby alter cell proliferation, differentiation, and other biological behaviors [6]. According to Xiang et al [16], βIII-tubulin expression changes the features of different endogenous microtubules in tumor cells. These changes cause reduced sensitivity of the binding between the drug and βIII-tubulin dimers.…”

“…However, high expression significantly correlated with a higher probability of achieving a good response to chemotherapy. Xiang et al [16] analyzed samples from 48 breast cancer patients who received neoadjuvant therapy containing taxanes. The expression of the βIII-tubulin protein before chemotherapy significantly affects the correlated treatment with the response rate.…”

<p>Connexin 43 Modulates the Cellular Resistance to Paclitaxel via Targeting β-Tubulin in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer</p>

“…32,33 As a component of the TGF-β family, β-tubulin is established as a significant predictor for the efficacy of taxane chemotherapy. 34 Tubulins are also involved in cellular biological events such as microtentacle formation, adhesion, and invasive migration. 35 It is known that tubulins participate in the microtube assembly via its colchicine binding site within the cytoplasm.…”