Cyclooxygenase-2 in human non-small cell lung cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Recent studies report that the expression of cyclooxygenase (COX) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is increased, especially in adenocarcinoma. Platelet activating factor (PAF), n-sodium butyrate (n-BT), and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) are important mediators of the inflammatory process.


METHODS
Expression of COX-2 in 67 stage 1 NSCLC paraffin-embedded tumor samples was determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Four NSCL cell lines were incubated and stimulated by PAF, n-BT and PMA for 48 h. Expression of COX-2 was determined by IHC, immunoblotting, and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).


RESULTS
IHC showed increasing immunoreactivity in 35 of 67 (52%) in stage I NSCLC, 31 of 53 (59%) in adenocarcinoma and 13 of 15 (87%) in bronchoalveolar cell carcinoma, but only 2 of 12 (17%) in epidermoid carcinoma. The COX-2 expression in NSCLC cells was 75% (3/4) and the COX-1 expression in NSCLC cells was 100% (4/4). After stimulation with PMA, n-BT, PAF and n-BT + PAF, the COX-2 expression in NSCLC cells was significantly increased in all cell lines.


CONCLUSIONS
The expression of COX-2 in NSCLC cells is high and was up-regulated by PMA, n-BT and PAF. We consider that COX-2 inhibitors will play an important role in the therapy of NSCLC.
Fang
H Y
HY
Division of General Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Changhua Christian Hospital, Taiwan. yuan@cch.org.tw
Lin
T-S
TS
Lin
J-P
JP
Wu
Y C
YC
Chow
K-C
KC
Wang
L-S
LS
D000368:Aged; D002087:Butyrates / Q000494:pharmacology; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000201:enzymology*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000494:pharmacology; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D002087:Butyrates; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate