Correlation between microtubule-associated gene expression and chemosensitivity of patients with stage II non-small cell lung cancer

The aim of this study was to explore the correlation between mRNA expression of β-tubulin-III and stathmin in patients with stage II non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and the chemosensitivity to Navelbine plus cisplatin (NP), as well as to provide a basis for personalized treatment. A single-gene quantitative test was performed to detect the mRNA expression of β-tubulin-III and stathmin in the tumor tissue of patients with stage II NSCLC. All the patients underwent NP treatment following surgery and were followed-up to record their disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Statistical analyses were conducted to investigate the correlation between β-tubulin-III and stathmin mRNA expression and DFS and OS in the patients. β-tubulin-III mRNA expression was associated with OS in the 73 patients (P=0.003) and DFS was correlated with β-tubulin-III mRNA expression and lymphatic metastasis (P<0.01). Stathmin mRNA expression was not correlated with OS or DFS (P>0.05). OS and DFS were longer in the patients with low β-tubulin-III mRNA expression than in those with high β-tubulin-III mRNA expression (P<0.01); there was no significant change in OS and DFS between the patients with high and low mRNA expression of stathmin (P>0.05). The mRNA expression levels of β-tubulin-III in the tumor tissue of patients with stage II NSCLC may be considered as an index of prognosis and chemosensitivity, as well as a reference for personalized chemotherapeutic applications in patients.