title: Expression of cyclo-oxygenase-2 in human tongue carcinoma and its precursor lesions.
abstract: The expression of Cox-2 protein was studied by immunohistochemistry in normal oral mucosa and in mucosa with various lesions of oral leukoplakia, including hyperplasia and dysplasia of squamous epithelium and frank invasive squamous carcinoma. A gradient of Cox-2 staining was found: the expression of Cox-2 was lowest in normal epithelium, somewhat increased in hyperplastic epithelium, further increased in dysplastic epithelium, and highest in invasive squamous cell carcinomas. The presence of Cox-2 in squamous cell carcinomas of the oral mucosa and its precursor lesions indicate that Cox-2 could participate in the carcinogenic process of these oral malignancies.
authors.affiliation: Transplantion Laboratory, Haarman Institute and Helsinki University Central Hospital, P.O. Box 21, Haarmaninkatu 3, 00014 Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Jutta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Renkonen
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wolff
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Paavonen
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000209:etiology; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000209:etiology; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases