title: Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression by immunohistochemistry in glioblastoma multiforme.
abstract: Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) (an enzyme responsible for the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandin) upregulation has been described in association with a variety of tumors including gliomas. This study reviews the immunohistochemical profile of 47 glioblastoma multiforme using COX-2 antibody and correlates the results with MIB-1 (marker of cell proliferation) immunostaining. Positive staining with COX-2 was observed in 35 tumors (74.5%); more than 10% tumor cell positivity was seen in 10 tumors (21.3%). Immunostaining results were as follows: no staining, N = 12 (25.5%); 0% to 5% of tumor cells, N = 20 (42.6%); 5% to 10%, N = 5 (10.6%); 10% to 20%, N = 4 (8.5%); 20% to 50%, N = 4 (8.5%); and greater than 50%, N = 2 (4.3%). The mean MIB-1 labeling index for all tumors ranged from 3.0 to 76.4 (mean, 19.6). Mean MIB-1 labeling indices were higher in tumors with greater than 5% COX-2 immunostaining (mean MIB-1 labeling index, 23.5) versus tumors with 0% to 5% COX-2 immunostaining (mean MIB-1 labeling index, 17.7). There is evidence of COX-2 expression by immunohistochemistry in the majority of glioblastoma multiforme. As a group, tumors with a higher rate of cell proliferation tended to have increased expression of COX-2. These findings are significant in that therapeutic agents, which inhibit COX-2, are currently available and may play a role in the management of glioblastoma multiforme.
authors.affiliation: Brain Tumor Center and the Department of Pathology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Prayson
authors.forename: Elias A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Castilla
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Vogelbaum
authors.forename: Gene H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Barnett
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D002455:Cell Division; D002648:Child; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D005260:Female; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism*; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases