Expression of cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 in extra-hepatic cholangiocarcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in extra-hepatic cholangiocarcinoma and the relationship between their expression and clinicopathological parameters.


METHODS
COX-1 and COX-2 were detected in 56 extra-hepatic cholangiocarcinomas, including 31 matched tissues originating from non-tumorous bile ductal tissue adjacent to tumours and 6 normal bile ductal tissues, by immunohistochemistry strept avidin-biotin complex using isozyme selective antibodies.


RESULTS
There was no difference in expression of COX-1 between carcinomas (96%, 54/56) and noncancerous specimens (94%, 29/31, P>0.05) or normal bile ductal tissues (100%, 6/6, P>0.05). The positive rate of COX-2 expression in extra-hepatic cholangiocarcinomas (86%, 48/56) was significantly higher than their matched tissues (39%, 12/31, P<0.01) and normal bile ductal tissues (0%, 0/6, P<0.01). Overexpression of COX-2 in extra-hepatic cholangiocarcinoma was related to the metastasis of lymph nodes, distant organs or tissues (P<0.05) as well as the degree of tumour differentiation (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The overexpression of COX-2 plays a crucial role in the carcinogenesis and development of extra-hepatic cholangiocarcinoma, indicating that COX-2 may serve as a target for chemoprevention of extra-hepatic cholangiocarcinoma.
Wu
Gao-Song
GS
Department of General Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China. wugaosong9172@sina.com
Wang
Ju-Hua
JH
Liu
Zheng-Ren
ZR
Zou
Sheng-Quan
SQ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D017734:Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism*; D013194:Staining and Labeling
D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496511:PTGS1 protein, human; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases