Correlation between Expression of TUBB3/STMN1 and EGFR Signaling Pathway
 in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Abstract

Background and objective It has been proven that biomarkers play a key role in the individualized treatment of lung cancer. Correlations between expressions of TUBB3/STMN1 and gene mutations of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS), v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B (BRAF), phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase (PI3K) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) would be investigated and this may provide essential significance on prognosis and predictions of drug efficiency. Methods This study total enrolled 46 NSCLC patients. Tumor specimens were resected. The gene expressions of TUBB3, STMN1 were analyzed using branched DNA-liquidchip, and EGFR, KRAS, BRAF, PI3K gene mutations were detected by xTAG-liquidchip. Correlations between gene expressions and gene mutations were further analyzed by Spearman. Results Co-expressions between TUBB3 and STMN1 are strongly demonstrated, and high expression of TUBB3 always exists as well as high expression of STMN1 (P=0.006). Meanwhile mutation of EGFR E21 is negatively correlated with TUBB3, and wild type of EGFR E21 always exists toghther with high expression of TUBB3 (P=0.004,6), whereas mutation of KRAS E2 is positively associated with expression level of STMN1 (P=0.038,6). Conclusion Antimicrotubule drug resistance factors of TUBB3 and STMN1 may be related with mutations of EGFR signal pathway, suggesting that EGFR mutation and KRAS mutation may be important factors in regulation of TUBB3/STMN1 expression, which provided basic references for chemotherapeutic resistance.

Keywords

• Lung neoplasms
• TUBB3
• STMN1
• EGFR pathway