title: Clinical implications of expression of cyclooxygenase-2 related to angiogenesis in uterine endometrial cancers.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gifu University School of Medicine, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu City 501-1194, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Toyoki
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sakaguchi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tamaya
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases