Does increased α-tubulin1b expression indicate poor prognosis and resistance to chemotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma?
Our results indicated that TUBA1B expression was upregulated in HCC tumor tissues and proliferating HCC cells, and an increased TUBA1B expression was associated with poor overall survival and resistance to paclitaxel of HCC patients.
Global survival, recurrence rate, and pattern of recurrence were similar to previously reported data. Nevertheless, in three patients recurrence was diagnosed>5 years after OLT. Although recurrence was limited and surgically removed in two cases, disease-free survival was poor. Thus, prolonged active surveillance for HCC recurrence beyond 5 years after OLT may be not useful to provide a survival benefit for these patients.