Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in human gastric adenomas and adenocarcinomas.
OBJECTIVE
The increased expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 has been implicated in the development and progression of colorectal cancer. We sought to determine the involvement of COX-2 in human gastric cancer.


METHODS
COX-2 mRNA was assayed in both gastric cancer cell lines and biopsy specimens from 37 gastric adenocarcinomas, five gastric adenomas, and five hyperplastic polyps by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
COX-2 mRNA was found in four of five gastric cancer cell lines, two from intestinal type and two from diffuse type. COX-2 mRNA was expressed in 19 of 37 (51%) human gastric cancer specimens. The tumor diameter was greater in patients with COX-2 expression than in those without (6.5 +/- 4.6 vs. 3.8 +/- 2.7 cm, P < 0.05). The incidence of COX-2 mRNA expression was significantly higher in patients with pT2-pT4 tumors than in those with pT1 tumors (71 vs. 35%, P < 0.05). Significantly higher expression of COX-2 mRNA was also observed in patients with lymph node involvement than in those without (75 vs. 40%, P < 0.05). COX-2 mRNA was found in one of five adenomas, while it was absent in five hyperplastic polyps. The paired normal gastric musosa did not express COX-2 mRNA in any of the 47 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
These results provide clinical evidence that COX-2 may contribute to tumor progression in human gastric adenocarcinoma.
Uefuji
K
K
Department of Surgery I, National Defense Medical College, Tokorozawa, Japan. k2uefu@med.email.ne.jp
Ichikura
T
T
Mochizuki
H
H
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D000236:Adenoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases