title: [Relation between COX-2 protein expression and biologic behavior of ovarian carcinoma].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the relation between cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein expression and biologic behavior of ovarian carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  The level of COX-2 protein expression was detected by Western Blot assay in 54 biopsy specimens from ovarian serous tumor patients and 10 normal ovarian samples.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The level of COX-2 protein expression and relative quantity in ovarian serous carcinoma (81.8%, 20.08 +/- 3.53) were statistically higher than those in the benign ovarian serous tumor (0, 15.04 +/- 0.12) and in the normal ovary (0, 15.33 +/- 0.60) (P < 0.05). The level of COX-2 protein expression and relative quantity in borderline ovarian serous tumor (90.0%, 20.61 +/- 3.03) were statistically higher than those in benign ovarian serous tumor and the normal ovary (P < 0.05). The level of COX-2 protein expression and relative quantity were not significantly different from ovarian serous carcinoma and borderline ovarian serous tumor (P > 0.05); as they were between the benign ovarian serous tumor and the normal ovary (P > 0.05). The level of COX-2 protein expression and relative quantity were not significantly different among different clinical stages (I + II and III + IV), different histological grades, with or without ascites or lymphatic metastasis either.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  COX-2 overexpression may be significantly related to the oncogenesis and development of ovarian serous carcinoma, which may be an early diagnostic parameter and, hence, an attractive target for chemopreventive strategy in the treatment of ovarian serous carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Dalian Sixth Hospital, Dalian 116001, China.
authors.forename: Li-xia
authors.initials: LX
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jian-wei
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015153:Blotting, Western; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human