βIII-tubulin at the invasive margin of colorectal cancer: possible link to invasion

Abstract

Cell locomotion, including cancer cell invasion, is closely associated with the dynamics of cytoskeletal structures. Previous in vitro studies indicated that tubulin isotype composition may affect polymerization properties and dynamics of microtubules. Colorectal cancer is a good model for studying tumour invasion because of the easily detectable invasive front. Hence, we investigated the localization of beta(III)-tubulin in colorectal cancer specimens. Immunohistochemical staining for beta(III)-tubulin was evident in cancer cells apparently budding from adjacent malignant cells with a higher differentiation and negative staining. An association between beta(III)-tubulin immunoreactivity and tumour budding grade was demonstrated. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report documenting a preferential localization of beta(III)-tubulin in the invading epithelium. From this finding arises the possibility that changes in tubulin isotypes could modulate the invading activity of cancer cells. Further investigations are needed to determine whether our findings have clinical implications.