[A study on cyclooxygenase-2 protein expression in esophageal carcinoma and premalignant lesions].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate cyclooxygenase-2(Cox-2) protein expression in esophageal cancer and precancerous lesions.


METHODS
One hundred twenty biopsy specimens from patients with esophageal carcinoma, 113 from patients with esophageal premalignant lesions, 27 from individuals with normal esophageal mucosa and 3 from Barrett's esophagus were examined for Cox-2 protein expression by immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
Cox-2 protein was not observed in normal esophageal squamous and glandular epithelium, hyperplasia from mild to severe dysplasia lesions and carcinoma in situ. Positive Cox-2 expression was found in 4 of 60 specimens of invasive squamous-cell carcinomas, 21 of 30 specimens of esophageal adenocarcinomas and in 3 of 3 Barrett's esophageal tissues.


CONCLUSIONS
The Cox-2 protein expression may be associated with the development of the esophageal adenocarcinomas but not esophageal squamous-cell carcinomas.
Wang
L
L
Department of Pathology, First Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, China.
Zhang
W
W
Wang
W
W
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D001706:Biopsy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000378:metabolism*; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism*
D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases