Cyclooxygenase-2 expression in Barrett's esophagus.
Barrett's epithelium is a recognized premalignant condition for esophageal adenocarcinoma. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) decrease the relative risk of colon cancer in humans and the esophageal tumor load in carcinogen-treated mice. Previous studies provided conflicting results for COX-2 activity in Barrett's mucosa. Pinch mucosal biopsies were collected from Barrett's and adjacent normal esophageal mucosa from 17 patients with Barrett's esophagus. Low-grade dysplasia was found in seven patients. COX-2 protein was undetectable in normal esophageal mucosa. COX-1 protein expression did not vary between normal and Barrett's epithelium. Increased COX-2 protein was detected in Barrett's epithelium in seven patients (41%) but did not differ with or without dysplasia (43% vs 40%). In conclusion, COX-2 protein is increased in 41% of patients with Barrett's epithelium compared to normal esophageal mucosa but did not differ with or without dysplasia. COX-2 induction may be an early event in the development of Barrett's esophagus.
Kandil
H M
HM
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232-2279, USA.
Tanner
G
G
Smalley
W
W
Halter
S
S
Radhika
A
A
Dubois
R N
RN
D000368:Aged; D001471:Barrett Esophagus / Q000201:enzymology*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D010544:Peroxidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism*
D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010544:Peroxidases; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases