title: Correlation of cyclooxygenase-2 pathway and VEGF expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine whether cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) was overexpressed in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in relation to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and lymph node metastasis. COX-2 has an important role in the promotion of carcinogenesis, tumor invasiveness and angiogenesis. VEGF is a proangiogenic factor that is up-regulated in various tumors. VEGF has been shown to interact with COX-derived prostaglandins in angiogenesis. To better understand the roles of these genes in HNSCC, we evaluated the immunohistochemical expression pattern of COX-2 and VEGF in relationship with histologic differentiation, clinical stage, and nodal status in 146 HNSCC. The COX-2/VEGF double immunofluorescein staining was evaluated with confocal scanning laser microscope. A positive expression was seen in 96% (140/146: 98 strong positive, 42 weakly positive) for COX-2 and in 98% (143/146: 63 strong positive, 80 weakly positive) for VEGF in HNSCC. A correlation was present in the positive expression of COX-2 with histologic differentiation, clinical stage, and nodal status. VEGF expression was also correlated with nodal status. A significant relation was observed between COX-2 and VEGF expressions. The simultaneous expression of COX-2 and VEGF was statistically significant (p<0.05). These results indicate that elevated COX-2 or VEGF expression is more common in HNSCC with poor prognostic characteristics. The present findings support the efforts to initiate clinical trials on the efficacy of COX-2 inhibitors in adjuvant treatment of HNSCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Chosun University Hospital, Kwangju City 501-140, South Korea. sclim@mail.chosun.ac.kr
authors.forename: Sung-Chul
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Sung-Yong
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Nam-Yong
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Do
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D019793:Fluorescein / Q000737:chemistry; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011485:Protein Binding; D015854:Up-Regulation; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D019793:Fluorescein