Expression of cyclooxygenase-2, Fas and Fas ligand in pulmonary adenocarcinoma and atypical adenomatous hyperplasia.
BACKGROUND
Atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (AAH) has been reported to be a precancerous lesion of pulmonary adenocarcinoma. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), Fas and Fas ligand (FasL) are believed to be involved in the pathogenesis and progression of cancer.


METHODS
We examined the expression of COX-2, Fas and FasL in 31 tissue specimens of adenocarcinoma and 9 of AAH using an immunohistochemical method.


RESULTS
COX-2 staining was observed in 20 (65%) specimens of adenocarcinoma and 2 (22%) of AAH. There was a significant difference in incidence of expression between these two groups (p = 0.025). All tumor specimens obtained from three patients with simultaneous multiple adenocarcinoma showed positive COX-2 staining. In two patients having both adenocarcinoma and AAH, COX-2 expression was detected in adenocarcinoma but not in AAH. Fas was expressed in 5 (16%) adenocarcinoma and 2 (22%) AAH specimens. FasL was detected in 3 (9.7%) adenocarcinoma and 1 (11%) AAH specimen.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that COX-2 might play a role in the progression from AAH to adenocarcinoma.
Department of Internal Medicine, National Shikoku Cancer Center Hospital, 13 Horinouchi, Matsuyama 790-0007, Japan. takigawan@s-okayama.hosp.go.jp
Nagio
N
Takigawa
Mikiko
M
Ida
Yoshihiko
Y
Segawa
Masao
M
Nakata
Koichi
K
Mandai
Daizo
D
Kishino
Keiichi
K
Fujiwara
Hideyuki
H
Saeki
Shigemitsu
S
Takashima
Kenji
K
Eguchi
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000236:Adenoma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000096:biosynthesis*
C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D019014:fas Receptor; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases