title: Expression of beta-catenin, COX-2 and iNOS in colorectal cancer: relevance of COX-2 adn iNOS inhibitors for treatment in Malaysia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Promising new pharmacological agents and gene therapy targeting cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) could modulate treatment of colorectal cancer in the future. The aim of this study was to elucidate the expression fo beta-catenin and teh presence of COX-2 and iNOS in colorectal cancer specimens in Malaysia. This is a useful prelude to future studies investigating interventions directed towards COX-2 adn iNOS.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-section study using retrospective data over a 2-year period (1999-2000) involved 101 archival, formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples of colorectal cancers that were surgically resected in a tertiary referral.
  
  
  RESULTS
  COX-2 production was detected in adjacent normal tissue in 34 sample (33.7%) and in tumour tissue in 60 samples (59.4%). More tumours expressed iNOS (82/101, 81.2%) than COX-2. No iNOS expression was detected in adjacent normal tissue. Intense beta-catenin immunoreactivity at the cell-to-cell border. Poorly differentiated tumours had significantly lower total beta-catenin (p = 0.009) and COX-2 scores (p = 0.031). No significant relationships were established between pathological stage and beta-catenin, COX-2 and iNOS scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  the accumulation of beta-catenin does not seem to be sufficient to activate pathways that lead to increased COX-2 and iNOS expression. A high proportion of colorectal cancers were found to express COX-2 and a significant number produced iNOS, suggesting that their inhibitors may be potentially useful as chemotherapeutic agents in the management of colorectal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory Science and Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor 43400. shf@putra.upm.edu.my
authors.forename: Seok Kwan
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Yunus A
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Gul
authors.forename: Hairuszah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ithnin
authors.forename: Arni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Talib
authors.forename: Heng Fong
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Seow
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism*; D051176:beta Catenin
chemical_list: C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051176:beta Catenin; C496319:NOS2 protein, human; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases