title: Predictive value of COX-2 for the effect of chemoradiotherapy on esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) displays anti-apoptotic functions related to angiogenesis or blocking of bcl-2 functions. COX-2 overexpression has been found in various human malignancies, including esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The present study examined correlations between expression of COX-2 mRNA and ESCC responses to chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Expression of COX-2 mRNA obtained from 29 biopsy specimens before CRT was quantified using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using Sybr Green I on the Roche LightCycler system. CRT comprised 5-fluorouracil plus cisplatin and 40 Gy of radiation. Mean COX-2 mRNA score was significantly higher in tumors (1222) than in normal epithelium (50; p=0.05). Expression of COX-2 mRNA was high in 14 patients, low in 8 and absent in 7. The effective response to CRT was achieved in 18 patients. Mean COX-2 mRNA score was significantly higher in ineffective cases (2910) than in effective cases (190; p<0.05). CRT was more effective in patients with low COX-2 mRNA expression than in those with high expression. COX-2 mRNA expression in biopsy specimens was closely related to CRT effectiveness. Examination of COX-2 mRNA expression is useful for predicting the effect of CRT in patients with ESCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, Digestive Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kagoshima University, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takatori
authors.forename: Shoji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Natsugoe
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okumura
authors.forename: Masataka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Sumiya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ishigami
authors.forename: Tetsuhiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Owaki
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aikou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D052160:Benzothiazoles; D001706:Biopsy; D002138:Calibration; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000494:pharmacology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000378:metabolism; D003959:Diamines; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000494:pharmacology; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000494:pharmacology; D011379:Prognosis; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011804:Quinolines; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D052160:Benzothiazoles; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D003959:Diamines; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D011804:Quinolines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C098022:SYBR Green I; D012313:RNA; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil