title: Correlation of COX-2 and Ep-CAM overexpression in human invasive breast cancer and its impact on survival.
abstract: Recent studies have demonstrated cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) overexpression in various human malignancies, especially in breast cancer, where COX-2 turned out to be a predictor of poor survival. To evaluate the relation of COX-2 and Ep-CAM overexpression and its prognostic significance, we performed a retrospective study on 212 breast cancer patients with a median follow-up time of 10.5 years. Overexpression of COX-2 in tumour tissue samples was assessed by immunohistochemistry. COX-2 overexpression was found in 48.6% of the tumour samples and was predictive for poor disease-free and overall survival. Univariate analysis revealed a strong correlation between COX-2 and Ep-CAM overexpression (P=0.009). Concurrent COX-2 and Ep-CAM overexpression was present in 21.7% of tumour specimens and had an additive negative impact on disease-free and overall survival. Determination of both tumour markers should help in guiding new therapeutic strategies in patients with invasive breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Division of Haematology and Oncology, University of Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Spizzo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gastl
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gunsilius
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Steurer
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fong
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amberger
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Margreiter
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Obrist
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D000071858:Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D000071858:Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases