Increased expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in first-degree relatives of gastric cancer patients.
OBJECTIVE
To study the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in human gastric cancer tissues and their paired adjacent mucosa, as well as mucosa from gastric antrum and corpus of the first-degree relatives of the recruited cancer patients.


METHODS
The expression of COX-2 mRNA in 38 patients with gastric cancer and their 29 first-degree relatives and 18 healthy controls was assessed by the real time RT-PCR. The expression of COX-2 protein was determined by Western blot.


RESULTS
A marked increase in COX-2 mRNA expression was found in 20 of 37 (54%) cancerous tissues compared to their respective paired normal mucosa (P<0.001). Interestingly, increased COX-2 mRNA expression was also found in mucosa of the corpus (6/29) and antrum (13/29) of their first-degree relatives. Increased COX-2 mRNA expression was more frequently observed in the antrum biopsies from cancer patients than in the antrum biopsies from healthy controls (P<0.05). In addition, 3 of 23 (13%) patients with atrophic mucosa and 6 of 35 (17%) patients with intestinal metaplasia showed increased COX-2 mRNA expression. Furthermore, COX-2 expression increased in H pylori-positive tissues, especially in antrum mucosa.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased COX-2 expression is involved in gastric carcinogenesis, and may be necessary for maintenance of the malignant phenotype and contribute to Helicobacter pylori-associated malignant transformation.
Zhang
Jin-Ting
JT
Department of Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, Hebei Province, China.
Wang
Ming-Wei
MW
Zhu
Zhen-Long
ZL
Huo
Xiao-Hui
XH
Chu
Jian-Kun
JK
Cui
Dong-Sheng
DS
Qiao
Liang
L
Yu
Jun
J
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D005190:Family; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000201:enzymology; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000201:enzymology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000235:genetics*; D011706:Pyloric Antrum / Q000201:enzymology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D012016:Reference Values; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*
D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases