Class III β-Tubulin Overexpression in Ovarian Clear Cell and Serous Carcinoma as a Marker for Poor Overall Survival after Platinum/Taxane Chemotherapy and Sensitivity to Patupilone Ovarian Cancer and Us OVARIAN CANCER and US Ovarian Cancer and Us

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Sunday, April 14, 2013

Class III β-Tubulin Overexpression in Ovarian Clear Cell and Serous Carcinoma as a Marker for Poor Overall Survival after Platinum/Taxane Chemotherapy and Sensitivity to Patupilone



Abstract

Objectives

Clear cell carcinoma of the ovary (OCCC) is a distinct subtype of epithelial cancer associated with chemoresistance and poor outcome compared to serous papillary carcinomas (OSPC). Resistance to paclitaxel has been linked to overexpression of class III β-tubulin in several human cancers but inadequately characterized among OCCC. Chemoresistance has also been variably linked to the drug efflux pump p-glycoprotein. Epothilones are microtubule-stabilizing agents with putative activity in paclitaxel-resistant malignancies. In this study, we clarify the relationship between class III β-tubulin and p-glycoprotein expression in OCCC, clinical outcome, and in vitro responsiveness to patupilone and paclitaxel.

Study Design

Class III β-tubulin and p-glycoprotein were quantified by real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in 61 fresh-frozen tissue samples and 11 cell lines. Expression by PCR was correlated with immunohistochemistry and overall survival. IC50 was determined using viability/metabolic assays. Impact of class III β-tubulin downregulation on IC50 was assessed with siRNAs.

Results

OCCC overexpressed class III β-tubulin and p-glycoprotein relative to OSPC in fresh-frozen tissues and cell lines. Class III β-tubulin immunohistochemistry reflected qRT-PCR results and overexpression stratified patients by overall survival. P-glycoprotein correlated with in vitro paclitaxel resistance, but not clinical outcome. OCCC were exquisitely sensitive to patupilone in a manner that correlated with class III β-tubulin expression.

Conclusions

Class III β-tubulin overexpression in OCCC discriminates poor prognosis, serves as a marker for sensitivity to patupilone, and may contribute to paclitaxel resistance. Immunohistochemistry reliably identifies tumors with overexpression of class III β-tubulin, and accordingly a subset of individuals likely to respond to patupilone.


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