Differential expression pattern of cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
The enzyme cyclooxygenase catalyzes the first step of the synthesis of prostanoids Cyclooxygenase has been shown to exist in two distinct isoforms: cyclooxygenase-1 is constitutively expressed as a housekeeping enzyme in most tissues whereas the inducible cyclooxygenase-2 has been reported to be involved in inflammatory processes and in the carcinogenesis of squamous cell carcinoma. The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution patterns of cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 in peritumoral lymphocytic infiltrates and tumor cells of head and neck carcinoma.


METHODS
Immunohistochemical analysis was performed using paraffin-embedded tumor specimens from 24 patients suffering from oropharyngeal, hypopharyngeal and oral squamous cell carcinomas.


RESULTS
We observed that cyclooxygenase-2 immunoreactivity, compared to that of cyclooxygenase-1, was significantly increased in peritumoral lymphocytic infiltrates as well as in tumor cells.


CONCLUSIONS
The expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in both tumor specimens and the surrounding peritumoral lymphocytic infiltrates supports the hypothesis that cyclooxygenase may be one of several important links between chronic inflammation and carcinogenesis.
Erovic
Boban M
BM
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Vienna Medical School, Vienna, Austria.
Pelzmann
Martina
M
Turhani
Dritan
D
Pammer
Johannes
J
Niederberger
Verena
V
Neuchrist
Csilla
C
Grasl
Matthäus Ch
MCh
Thurnher
Dietmar
D
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism*; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism*
D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496511:PTGS1 protein, human; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases