Increased abundance of cyclooxygenase-2 correlates with vascular endothelial growth factor-A abundance and tumor angiogenesis in gastric cancer.
To understand the role of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in gastric cancer, we examined the abundance of COX-2, vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), and CD34 in 45 surgically resected human gastric cancers and paired normal gastric mucosa by immunohistochemical analysis. In addition, the message RNA (mRNA) expression of COX-2 and VEGF-A was evaluated in ten fresh surgically resected human gastric cancers and paired normal gastric mucosas using semi-quantitative reverse transcriptional polymerase chain reaction analysis. Our results confirmed an increased abundance of COX-2 and VEGF-A, and the microvessel density, which was assessed by CD34 abundance, in gastric cancer tissues compared with normal paired mucosa. Abundance of COX-2 and VEGF-A was significantly associated with tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage (P<0.05) and lymph node metastasis (P<0.001). In addition, abundance of VEGF-A associates with distance metastasis. A significant correlation was found between COX-2 and VEGF-A abundances (P<0.001). Both abundance of COX-2 and VEGF-A were significantly correlated with microvessel density (P<0.001, respectively). In six of ten cancerous tissues and in one of ten paired normal mucosas, the mRNA expression of COX-2 and VEGF-A was detected in the same specimen. In one other cancerous tissue, only COX-2 mRNA was detected. This study indicates that COX-2 is related to tumor angiogenesis in gastric cancer. VEGF-A might play a main role in the COX-2 angiogenic pathway.
Yu
Hong-Gang
HG
Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan Univeristy, Jiefang road 238, 430060 Wuhan, China. yuyang68@public.wh.hb.cn
Li
Jian-Ying
JY
Yang
Yan-Ning
YN
Luo
He-Sheng
HS
Yu
Jie-Ping
JP
Meier
Juris J
JJ
Schrader
Henning
H
Bastian
Andreas
A
Schmidt
Wolfgang E
WE
Schmitz
Frank
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000032:analysis; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004790:Enzyme Induction; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000201:enzymology; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism*; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
D018952:Antigens, CD34; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases