title: Overexpression of cyclooxygenase-2 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma and association with lymph node metastasis.
abstract: Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) has been shown to be involved in multiple steps of carcinogenesis. In this study, we examined COX-2 expression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). COX-2 mRNA analyzed by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was detected in 66% (16 of 24) of tumor tissues. Western blot analysis demonstrated that COX-2 protein level was increased in tumor tissues and was correlated with the expression level of mRNA. Immunohistochemical study showed that COX-2 was predominantly detected in cancer cells, and the staining pattern was cytoplasmic. Ten histologically normal nasopharyngeal tissues obtained from nasopharyngeal hyperplasia were also investigated. We found that COX-2 mRNA was detectable in three tissues and the COX-2 protein level was very low. The frequency of COX-2 overexpression was significantly higher in patients of the N1-N3 group than in patients of the N0 group (P=0.006). Taken together, these data suggest that COX-2 is overexpressed and is associated with increased lymphatic invasion in NPC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Chang Gung University, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical Center, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Jyh-Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Hui-Chiu
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Chung-Feng
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Wen-Chun
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Hung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000556:secondary; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2