title: Increased expression of cyclooxygenase 2 occurs frequently in human lung cancers, specifically in adenocarcinomas.
abstract: Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression was immunohistochemically examined in 59 human lung cancers as well as in normal and premalignant lung specimens. In contrast to scattered weak reactivity seen in normal peripheral airway epithelial cells, markedly up-regulated COX-2 expression was detected in about one-third of atypical adenomatous hyperplasias and carcinoma in situ specimens, and a significant increase in COX-2 expression was observed in 70% of invasive adenocarcinoma cases. Interestingly, the proportion of adenocarcinoma cells with marked COX-2 expression was much greater in lymph node metastases than in the corresponding primary tumors. In contrast, small cell carcinomas showed virtually negligible expression, and squamous cell carcinomas showed infrequent and low expression. These findings suggest that an increase in COX-2 expression may be associated with the development of adenocarcinomas and possibly with acquisition of an invasive and metastatic phenotype.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Aichi Cancer Center Hospital, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hida
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yatabe
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Achiwa
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Muramatsu
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kozaki
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mitsudomi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sugiura
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takahashi
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000201:enzymology*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008168:Lung / Q000201:enzymology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000201:enzymology; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases