Overexpression of cyclooxygenase-2 and tumor angiogenesis in human gastric cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein is overexpressed in various cancers, including esophageal, gastric, colon, and pancreatic. To better comprehend the role of COX-2 in gastric cancer, especially with regard to angiogenesis, we investigated COX-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and microvessel density (MVD) in 108 patients with gastric cancer.


METHODS
We used immunohistochemical analysis of formalin-fixed tissues of gastric cancer.


RESULTS
Expression of COX-2 showed diffuse staining in the cytoplasm of tumor cells, however, no staining in normal epithelial cells. Of the 108 tumors examined, 71 (65%) were positive for COX-2 expression, the VEGF-positive cases numbered 43 of 108 cases (39.8%). The intensity of COX-2 expression did not correlate with any clinicopathological characteristics. The positive rate of VEGF expression in COX-2-positive cases was significantly higher than in COX-2-negative ones (47.9% vs. 24.3%, P<0.05). MVD in COX-2-positive cases was significantly higher than in COX-2-negative ones (22.0+/-7.8 vs. 18.5+/-7.5/1 mm2; P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Our study provides evidence that COX-2 is closely related with angiogenesis.
Koga
Tadashi
T
Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan. tadkoga@lime.ocn.ne.jp
Shibahara
Kotaro
K
Kabashima
Akira
A
Sumiyoshi
Yasushi
Y
Kimura
Yasue
Y
Takahashi
Ikuo
I
Kakeji
Yoshihiro
Y
Maehara
Yoshihiko
Y
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D015331:Cohort Studies; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008833:Microcirculation; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases