Analysis of cyclooxygenase-2 expression in human breast cancer: high throughput tissue microarray analysis.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to evaluate breast carcinomas for the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) using a tissue microarray (TMA) and to determine its clinical and prognostic relevance.


METHODS
We analyzed Cox-2 expression in 600 samples from 200 breast carcinomas immunohistochemically performing TMA technology and semiquantitative analysis. Results were correlated with various clinicopathological variables and follow-up data. Expression of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, Ki-67, and Her-2/neu-oncogene was analyzed and correlated with Cox-2 status.


RESULTS
We observed a moderate or strong cytoplasmic staining for Cox-2 in 78 (40.6%) of breast carcinomas. Increased Cox-2 expression corresponded to higher pT stage ( P=0.038), amplification of Her-2/neu ( P=0.032), lymphovascular invasion ( P=0.006), a high MIB-1 labeling index (LI) ( P<0.001), and histological grading ( P=0.013). We also observed an inverse relationship between strong Cox-2 expression and estrogen and progesterone receptor content of tumors ( P=0.037 and P=0.010). However, we could not demonstrate a significant association between Cox-2 staining and overall survival or disease free survival time.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that Cox-2 expression is significantly associated with less differentiated and more aggressive breast carcinomas and might therefore be a useful prognostic indicator as well as a target for therapy.
Wülfing
Pia
P
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Strasse 33, 48129, Münster, Germany. wuelfip@uni-muenster.de
Diallo
Raihanatou
R
Müller
Christine
C
Wülfing
Christian
C
Poremba
Christopher
C
Heinecke
Achim
A
Rody
Achim
A
Greb
Robert R
RR
Böcker
Werner
W
Kiesel
Ludwig
L
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011379:Prognosis; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism*; D066247:Receptor, ErbB-4; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D016019:Survival Analysis
D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; C587689:ERBB4 protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D066247:Receptor, ErbB-4