Objective  To detect the expression of β-tubulin in human non-small cell lung carcinoma(NSCLC) and investigate its relationship with prognosis following post-operative adjuvant vinorelbine/platinum chemotherapy.

  Methods  This article retrospectively analyzed 84 patients with NSCLC who had undergone adjuvant vinorelbine/platinum chemotherapy.The expression ofβ-tubulin protein was examined by immunohistochemistry(SP method).The relationships of β-tubulin with disease-free survival(DFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed.

  Results  Low β-tubulin expression was identified in 36 of 84 samples(42.9%), and high β-tubulin expression was identified in 48 of 84 samples(57.1%).We found that in male(68.2%vs.45.0%, P=0.032), stagesⅠ~Ⅱ(70.7%vs.44.2%, P=0.014), radical surgery(61.6%vs.38.4%, P=0.032), high β-tubulin expression was more frequent than low expression.High β-tubulin expression was not associated with age, pathological type, pathological grade, history of smoking, metestasis status, and radiotherapy status(P > 0.05).Univariate analysis showed that the median DFS was significantly worse in NSCLC patients with lowβ-tubulin expression after adjuvant vinorelbine chemotherapy than in those with highβ-tubulin expression(22.6 mo vs.69.6 mo).However, the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05).DFS was significantly better in patients with high expression than those with low expression 13 mo after surgery.Furthermore, we found that NSCLC patients, aged more than 60 yr, with highβ-tubulin expression(P=0.032), adenocarcinoma(P=0.034), moderately to highly differentiated diseases(P=0.028), and were non-smokers(P=0.016) had significantly better DFS than those with low expression. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed thatβ-tubulin(RR=2.213, P=0.025) and the clinical TNM stage(RR=0.319, P < 0.0001) are significant independent predictors of DFS for patients with lung cancer, whereas the clinical TNM stage(RR=0.426, P=0.010) and radiotherapy status(RR=0.38, P=0.026) was a significant independent predictor of OS for patients with non-small lung cancer.

  Conclusion  β-tubulin expression in NSCLC is related to the prognosis following adjuvant vinorelbine chemotherapy in operable NSCLC.High expression is associated with a better prognosis than low expression.β-tubulin is detectable by immunohistochemical methods after operation, which makes it a favorable consideration for individualized treatment plans, and may improve survival.