Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in colorectal cancer and its clinical significance.
OBJECTIVE
To clarify the clinicopathologic significance of COX-2 expression in human colorectal cancer.


METHODS
A total of 128 surgically resected colorectal cancer specimens were immunohistochemically analyzed with the use of anti-COX-2, anti-VEGF and anti-MMP-2 antibodies. The relationship between the cyclooxygenase-2 expression in primary lesions of colorectal cancer and clinicopathologic parameters was evaluated by chi-square test.


RESULTS
Among 128 cases of colorectal cancer, 87 (67.9%) were positive for cyclooxygenase-2. The expression of cyclooxygenase-2 was significantly correlated with the depth of invasion, stage of disease, and metastasis (lymph node and liver). Patients in T3-T4, stages III-IV and with metastasis had much higher expression of cyclooxygenase-2 than ones in T1-T2, stages I-II and without metastasis (P<0.05). Among 45 cases of colorectal cancer with lymph node metastasis, the COX-2- positive rate was 86.7% (39/45) for primary lesions and diffuse cytoplasmic staining for COX-2 protein was detected in cancer cells in 100% of metastatic lesions of the lymph nodes. VEGF expression was detected in 49 tumors (38.3%), and VEGF expression was closely correlated with COX-2 expression. The positive expression rate of VEGF (81.6%) in the cyclooxygenase-2-positive group was higher than that in the cyclooxygenase-2- negative group (18.4%, P<0.05). MMP-2 expression was detected in 88 tumors (68.8%), and MMP-2 expression was closely correlated with COX-2 expression. The positive expression rate of MMP-2 (79.6%) in the positive COX-2 group was higher than that in the negative COX-2 group (20.4%, P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Cyclooxygenase-2 may be associated with tumor progression by modulating the angiogenesis and cancer cell motility and invasive potential in colorectal cancer and it can be used as a possible biomarker.
Xiong
Bin
B
Affiliated Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei Province, China. binxiong88@yahoo.com
Sun
Tao-Jiao
TJ
Hu
Wei-Dong
WD
Cheng
Fu-Lin
FL
Mao
Min
M
Zhou
Yun-Feng
YF
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000556:secondary*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2