[Expression and significance of cyclooxygenase-2 in human pancreatic carcinomas].
OBJECTIVE
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) reduced the incidence of gastrointestinal neoplasms with inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). This study was designed to investigate the expression and significance of COX-2 and the relationship between COX-2 and bcl-2 in human pancreatic carcinoma.


METHODS
COX-2 and bcl-2 expression was determined with ABC immunohistochemical analysis in the samples of pancreatic carcinoma.


RESULTS
COX-2 and bcl-2 proteins were found in 22 of 30 (73.3%) and 20 of 30 (66.7%) patients with pancreatic carcinoma, which were higher than those with pancreatic benign disease and normal pancreas,respectively (P< 0.05). There was positive correlation between the expression rates of COX-2 and bcl-2 in pancreatic carcinoma. The correlation coefficient was 0.470 (P< 0.01). There was no significant difference in expression rates of COX-2 in patients among age, sex, tumor location, tumor size, histological degree, and TNM staging (P >0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
COX-2 protein is overexpressed in human pancreatic carcinoma. The co-expression of COX-2 and bcl-2 might play an important role in the regulation of apoptosis of pancreatic carcinoma cells.
Wang
Hai-Xia
HX
Department of Gastroenterology,The Second Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China.
Chen
Qi-Kui
QK
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000032:analysis*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000032:analysis
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases