Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in cervical, endometrial, and ovarian malignancies.
OBJECTIVE
This study was undertaken to compare the presence of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) levels between normal and malignant cervix, endometrium, and ovary.


METHODS
Semiquantitative immunofluorescent assays for COX-2 were performed on sections of cervical squamous cell carcinoma (n = 12), endometrial adenocarcinoma (n = 13), and ovarian serous adenocarcinoma (n = 9). Levels of immunofluorescence for each sample were objectively measured, categorized as high, moderate, or negative expression and compared with normal cervical (n = 14), endometrial (n = 15), and ovarian (n = 13) tissue with the Fisher exact test.


RESULTS
Normal cervical tissue expressed COX-2 more frequently than cervical cancer (50% vs 23%), but the difference was not significant (P =.247). COX-2 was rarely present in normal endometrium (7%) and normal ovarian epithelium (0%) and was usually present in endometrial adenocarcinoma (69%, P <.001) and ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma (89%, P <.001).


CONCLUSIONS
In this cohort, COX-2 expression is significantly more common in endometrial adenocarcinoma and ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma, but not in cervical squamous carcinoma, compared with normal tissue.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of South Carolina, 96 Jonathan Lucas Boulevard, 634 CSB, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
Charles N
CN
Landen
Subbi P
SP
Mathur
Mary S
MS
Richardson
William T
WT
Creasman
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000201:enzymology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D018284:Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / Q000201:enzymology*; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*
D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases