Clinical implications of expression of cyclooxygenase-2 related to angiogenesis in uterine endometrial cancers.
BACKGROUND
Angiogenesis is essential for development, growth and advancement of solid tumors. Cyclooxygenase (cox)-2 is recognized as an angiogenic factor in various tumors. This prompted us to study the clinical implications of cox-2 expression and angiogenesis in uterine endometrial cancers.


METHODS
Fifty patients underwent curative resection for uterine endometrial cancers. In uterine endometrial cancers, cox-2 levels were determined by enzyme immunoassay, and the localization and counts of microvessels were determined by immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
There was a significant correlation between microvessel counts and cox-2 levels in uterine endometrial cancers. Cox-2 localized in the cancer cells, but not in the stromal cells of uterine endometrial cancer tissues. Cox-2 levels decreased with the advancement. Furthermore, cox-2 levels significantly correlated with VEGF levels in uterine endometrial cancers.


CONCLUSIONS
VEGF associated with cox-2 might work on angiogenesis at an early status in growth. Therefore, long-term administration of cox-2 inhibitors might be effective in the suppression of recurrent initiation of uterine endometrial cancers after curative resection.
Toyoki
H
H
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gifu University School of Medicine, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu City 501-1194, Japan.
Fujimoto
J
J
Sato
E
E
Sakaguchi
H
H
Tamaya
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis*
D008565:Membrane Proteins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases