Cyclooxygenase-2 expression in brain metastases.
BACKGROUND
Elevated Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression is thought to increase metastatic potential of many tumors. Furthermore, elevated COX-2 expression correlates with radiation resistance in many tumor types. We evaluated whether: (i) the degree of COX-2 expression correlated with either metastatic tumor type or with the presence of necrosis and whether (ii) radiation-resistant tumors (renal cell and melanoma) had higher expression of COX-2 than did relatively radiation-sensitive tumors (breast and lung).


METHODS
Specimens from sixteen patients who underwent resection of brain metastases were analyzed for COX-2 expression using a COX-2 antibody-based immunoassay. Specimens consisted of brain metastases from lung tumors, breast adenocarcinomas, melanomas and renal cell carcinomas. All specimens were analyzed for the presence or absence of necrosis.


RESULTS
Ten of sixteen brain metastasis specimens had ten percent or less Cox-2 immunostaining. Statistical analyses showed no correlation between Cox-2 immunostaining and metastatic tumor type or between Cox-2 immunostaining and necrosis in this study. Furthermore, renal cell carcinoma and melanoma showed variable Cox-2 immunostaining.


CONCLUSIONS
Cox-2 is not consistently expressed in metastases to the brain. The degree of Cox-2 expression does not correlate with metastatic tumor type or with the presence of necrosis. Radioresistant tumors did not have statistically different expression of Cox-2 than radiosensitive specimens studied in this analysis.
Karim
Aftab
A
Department of Neurosurgery, LSU Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA 71130, USA.
Fowler
Marjorie
M
Jones
Lamar
L
Patwardhan
Ravish
R
Vannemreddy
Prasad
P
Mccarthy
Kevin
K
Nanda
Anil
A
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000556:secondary; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000556:secondary*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D044584:Carcinoma, Ductal / Q000201:enzymology / Q000556:secondary; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000201:enzymology / Q000556:secondary; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000556:secondary; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases