β-Tubulin mutations in ovarian cancer using single strand conformation analysis-risk of false positive results from paraffin embedded tissues

Mutations in the β-tubulin gene have been proposed as a resistance mechanism to paclitaxel. We therefore investigated the presence of mutations in the β-tubulin M40 gene in 40 ovarian tumours (16 paraffin-embedded and 24 freshly frozen) selected for good or poor response to chemotherapy with paclitaxel or non-tubulin-affecting regimens. The presence of mutations was investigated using single strand conformation analysis followed by sequencing of the products with altered mobility. No sequence variants in the exons of the β-tubulin M40 gene were detected. Non-reproducible shifts were identified, in eight out of 16 paraffin embedded samples. This may explain some of the previously published discrepancies. In conclusion, sequence variants in the β-tubulin M40 gene are rare and are unlikely to be a clinically relevant explanation of resistance to paclitaxel.