title: Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and clinicopathologic features in human gastric adenocarcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) gene in gastric cancer and the relationship between COX-2 expression and clinicopathologic features of gastric cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  With reference to the expression of beta-actin gene, COX-2 mRNA level was examined in cancerous tissues and adjacent noncancerous mucosa from 33 patients by semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Quantitation of relative band Adj volume counts was performed using molecular Analyst for windows software. The COX-2 index was determined from the band Adj volume counts ratio of COX-2 to constitutively expressed actin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The COX-2 index in gastric carcinoma was significantly higher than that in normal mucosa (0.5966+/-0.2659 vs 0.2979+/-0.171, u=5.4309, P<0.01). Significantly higher expression of COX-2 mRNA was also observed in patients with lymph node involvement than that in those without (0.6775+/-0.2486 vs 0.4105+/-0.2182, t=2.9341, P<0.01). Furthermore, the staging in the UICC TNM classification significantly correlated with COX-2 overexpression (F=3.656, P<0.05), the COX-2 index in stage III and IV was significantly higher than those in stage I and II (q=3.2728 and q=3.4906, P<0.05). The COX-2 index showed no correlation with patient's age, sex, blood group, tumor location, gross typing, depth of invasion, differentiation, and the greatest tumor dimension (P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Expression of COX-2 mRNA in gastric carcinoma was significantly higher, which may enhance lymphatic metastasis in patients with gastric carcinoma. The staging in the UICC TNM classification was significantly correlated with COX-2 over-expression. COX-2 may contribute to progression of tumor in human gastric adenocarcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, The Third Clinical Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150040, Heilongjiang Province, China. lovezzb@sina.com.cn
authors.forename: Ying-Wei
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Qi-Fan
authors.initials: QF
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhi-Bing
authors.initials: ZB
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Song-Bin
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Fu
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases