title: Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in adenocarcinomas of the uterine cervix and its relation to angiogenesis and tumor growth.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression in adenocarcinomas of the uterine cervix and its correlation with clinicopathologic features, angiogenesis, and tumor growth.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-nine cases of FIGO clinical stage I and II adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix were examined by immunohistochemical studies with anti-COX-2. Microvessels were immunohistochemically labeled with an antibody to CD34. Computerized image analysis was used to evaluate microvessel density (MVD). The apoptotic cells were visualized by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) and proliferative cells were visualized by staining with Ki-67 antibody.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-eight tumors (71.8%) were classified as COX-2 positive. COX-2 expression correlated with FIGO stage (P < 0.01). Tumors expressing COX-2 had a significantly higher MVD and Ki-67 index than those that did not express COX-2 (P < 0.05). However, COX-2 expression did not correlate with the apoptotic index. In univariate long-rank analysis, COX-2 expression, MVD, and FIGO stage were associated with shortened survival. However, FIGO stage and MVD were the only independent prognostic factors by multivariate analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that COX-2 expression in cervical adenocarcinomas may contribute to tumor progression by increasing angiogenesis and cell proliferation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Chonnam National University Medical School and Research Institute of Medical Science, Gwangju, Korea. jshinlee@hanmail.net
authors.forename: Ji Shin
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yoo Duk
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Jae Hyuk
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jong Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.forename: Chan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Min Cheol
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chang Soo
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Sang Woo
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Juhng
authors.forename: Hyung Seok
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyung Whan
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Min
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000098:blood supply / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D048708:Cell Growth Processes / Q000502:physiology; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D018450:Disease Progression; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases