Expression of β-tubulin isotypes in urothelial carcinoma of the bladder.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

Our study aims to investigate the expressions of β-tubulin isotypes and their significances in urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB) as altered expression of a specific β-tubulin isotype is associated with chemoresistance and poor prognosis in other malignancies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Expression of β-tubulin isotypes was retrospectively examined in 342 UCB samples obtained from 1995 to 2010 by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS:

TUBB1 (307/342, 89.8 %) was most frequently overexpressed in the cytoplasm of UCB cases, followed by TUBB4 (101/342, 29.5 %), TUBB2 (85/342, 24.9 %), and TUBB3 (60/342, 17.5 %). TUBB1 overexpression was associated with older age (p = 0.032), high WHO grade (p = 0.001), and advanced TNM stage (p = 0.006). High levels of TUBB2 expression were associated with high WHO grade (p < 0.001), advanced TNM stage (p < 0.001), and non-papillary growth pattern (p = 0.007). TUBB3 overexpression was related to high WHO grade (p = 0.029). In univariate and multivariate survival analyses, TUBB1 overexpression was associated with poor recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates of all cases (hazard ratio 1.98, p = 0.031) and of the patients with transurethral and/or partial resection (hazard ratio 2.12, p = 0.031). TUBB2 overexpression was correlated with a short RFS of the patients with T2-T4 stages (hazard ratio 3.48, p = 0.007). TUBB3 overexpression was related to a poor RFS of the patients undergoing radical cystectomy (hazard ratio 5.90, p = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS:

High TUBB1, TUBB2, and TUBB3 expressions are associated with unfavorable clinicopathologic factors and are independent prognostic factors for recurrence-free survival of UCB.

• Authors: Jung-Woo Choi, Younghye Kim, Ju-Han Lee, Young-Sik Kim
• Journal: World journal of urology (World J Urol) Vol. 32 Issue 2 Pg. 347-52 (Apr 2014) ISSN: 1433-8726 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 23184177 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• TUBB1 protein, human
• TUBB3 protein, human
• Tubulin

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Carcinoma, Transitional Cell (metabolism, pathology)
• Cohort Studies
• Disease-Free Survival
• Female
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Multivariate Analysis
• Prognosis
• Retrospective Studies
• Tubulin (metabolism)
• Urinary Bladder Neoplasms (metabolism, pathology)
• Young Adult