Overexpression of cyclooxygenase-2 in carcinoma of the pancreas.
The level of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 has been investigated recently in various human carcinomas. In the present study, we examined the distribution and extent of COX-2 protein in human pancreatic tumors using immunohistochemistry. A strong expression of COX-2 protein was present in 23 of 52 (44%) pancreatic carcinomas, a moderate expression was present in 24 of 52 (46%) pancreatic carcinomas, and a weak expression was present in 5 of 52 (10%) pancreatic carcinomas. In contrast, benign tumors showed weak expression or no expression of COX-2, and only islet cells displayed COX-2 expression in normal pancreatic tissues. Overexpression of COX-2 in carcinoma tissues was also confirmed by Western blot analysis. Furthermore, consistent with the results at protein levels, reverse transcription-PCR analyses indicated that COX-2 mRNA was overexpressed in 7 of 13 (54%) carcinomas, but in none of 3 benign tumors. Our findings suggest that COX-2 inhibitors might be potentially effective against pancreatic carcinomas and that COX-2 may be involved in certain biological processes in pancreatic islets.
Okami
J
J
Department of Surgery II, Osaka University Medical School, Suita City, Japan.
Yamamoto
H
H
Fujiwara
Y
Y
Tsujie
M
M
Kondo
M
M
Noura
S
S
Oshima
S
S
Nagano
H
H
Dono
K
K
Umeshita
K
K
Ishikawa
O
O
Sakon
M
M
Matsuura
N
N
Nakamori
S
S
Monden
M
M
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000201:enzymology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D018196:Carcinoma, Adenosquamous / Q000201:enzymology*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases