Increased expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and nitric oxide synthase-2 in human prostate cancer.
Cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase-2 (NOS-2) each have an important role in angiogenesis. The expression of these genes was investigated in human prostate cancer by immunohistochemistry, the expression of COX-1 and COX-2 being confirmed by mRNA analysis. Prostate cancer specimens from 12 patients were compared to control prostates from 13 patients operated on for bladder carcinoma. The intensity of COX-2 and NOS-2 immunostaining was significantly stronger in prostate cancer cells than in the non-malignant glandular epithelium of the control prostates. COX-2 and NOS-2 were clearly also expressed in the lesions of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) in control prostates. COX-2 was detected in the muscle fibres of the hyperplastic stroma of some control prostates. No significant difference was detected in COX-1 expression between control and cancer prostates. These results indicate that the expression of COX-2 and NOS-2 is elevated in prostatic adenocarcinoma and in PIN.
Uotila
P
P
Departments of Physiology and Clinical Physiology, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520 Turku, Finland. Pekka.Uotila@utu.fi
Valve
E
E
Martikainen
P
P
Nevalainen
M
M
Nurmi
M
M
Härkönen
P
P
D000368:Aged; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D019048:Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia / Q000201:enzymology*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis
D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496511:PTGS1 protein, human; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases