Cyclooxygenase-2 expression and angiogenesis in colorectal cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Cyclooxygenase-2 is involved in a variety of important cellular functions, including cell growth and differentiation, cancer cell motility and invasion, angiogenesis and immune function. However, the role of cyclooxygenase-2 as an angiogenic factor in colorectal cancer tissue is still unclear. We investigated the relationship between cyclooxygenase-2 and angiogenesis by analyzing the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in colorectal cancer tissue, as well as its association with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and microvascular density (MVD).


METHODS
The expression of cyclooxygenase-2, VEGF, as well as MVD was detected in 128 cases of colorectal cancer by immunohistochemical staining. The relationship between the cyclooxygenase-2 and VEGF expression and MVD was evaluated. Our objective was to determine the effect of cyclooxygenase-2 on the angiogenesis of colorectal cancer tissue.


RESULTS
Among 128 cases of colorectal cancer, 87 were positive for cyclooxygenase-2 (67.9 %), and 49 for VEGF (38.3 %), respectively. The microvessel counts ranged from 23 to 142, with a mean of 51.7 (standard deviation, 19.8). The expression of cyclooxygenase-2 was correlated significantly with the depth of invasion, stage of disease, metastasis (lymph node and liver), VEGF expression and MVD. Patients in T3-T4, stage III-IV and with metastasis had much higher expression of cyclooxygenase-2 than patients in T1-T2, stage I-II and without metastasis (P<0.05). The positive expression rate of VEGF (81.6 %) in the cyclooxygenase-2 positive group was higher than that in the cyclooxygenase-2 negative group (18.4 %, P<0.05). Also, the microvessel count (56+/-16) in cyclooxygenase-2 positive group was significantly higher than that in cyclooxygenase-2 negative group (43+/-12, P<0.05). The microvessel count in tumors with positive cyclooxygenase-2 and VEGF was the highest (60+/-18, 41-142, P<0.05), whereas that in tumors with negative cyclooxygenase-2 and VEGF was the lowest (39+/-16, 23-68, P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Cyclooxygenase-2 may be associated with tumor progression by madulating the angiogenesis in colorectal cancer tissue and used as a possible biomarker.
Xiong
Bin
B
Department of Oncology, Affiliated Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University,Wuhan 430071, Hubei Province, China. xbxh@public.wh.hb.cn
Sun
Tao-Jiao
TJ
Yuan
Hong-Yin
HY
Hu
Ming-Bo
MB
Hu
Wei-Dong
WD
Cheng
Fu-Lin
FL
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000473:pathology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008833:Microcirculation; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008222:Lymphokines; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases