Expression of excision repair cross-complementation group 1, breast cancer susceptibility 1, and β III-tubulin in thymic epithelial tumors.

BACKGROUND

We investigated the clinical significance of excision repair cross-complementation group 1 (ERCC1), breast cancer susceptibility 1 (BRCA1), and class III β-tubulin (TUBB3) expression in thymic epithelial tumors.

METHOD: Fifty-six patients with thymic epithelial tumors were included in this study. Tumors sections were stained by immunohistochemistry for ERCC1, BRCA1, TUBB3, microvessel density, and p53.

RESULTS

ERCC1, BRCA1, and TUBB3 were expressed in 48%, 50%, and 27%, respectively. The expression of ERCC1, BRCA1, and TUBB3 was significantly correlated with the grade of malignancy in thymic epithelial tumors. These biomarkers were closely associated with p53 and microvessel density and were a prognostic marker for predicting poor outcome. We also found that overexpression of ERCC1 and TUBB3 was associated with resistance to platinum- and taxane-based chemotherapy.

CONCLUSION

An expression of ERCC1, BRCA1, and TUBB3 was correlated strongly with each other and was significantly associated with a poor outcome in thymic epithelial tumors. High-ERCC1 and TUBB3 expressions might be associated with resistance to platinum- and taxane-based chemotherapy, respectively.