title: Elevation of cyclooxygenase-2 is related to lymph node metastasis in adenocarcinoma of uterine cervix.
abstract: In a previous study, we demonstrated that elevation of COX-2 is significantly associated with lymph node metastasis in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of cervix. The main objective of this study is to characterize the relationship between elevation of COX-2 and its possible clinical role in adenocarcinoma (AC) of cervix. Using immunohistochemistry, we examined COX-2 expression levels in 84 patients with AC of uterine cervix [71 ACs, 13 adenosquamous carcinomas (ASCs)]. Elevation of COX-2 was correlated with clinicopathological variables and p53 expression, as detected by immunohistochemistry. Elevation of COX-2 was detected in 13.0% (11 of 84) of the tumors. Elevation of COX-2 was significantly correlated with histologic type (AC 8.5% vs. ASC 38.5%, P=0.011). Both tumor stage and lymph node metastasis were correlated with elevation of COX-2 with a borderline significance (P=0.062 and 0.068, respectively). Elevation of p53 was not associated with elevation of COX-2. The association between lymph node metastasis and elevation of COX-2 was stronger in cases of AC than in cases of ASC (28.4 vs. 4.3%, P=0.023). According to the results of univariate analysis, elevation of COX-2 was significantly associated with decreased overall survival (P=0.003, log-rank test). However, multivariate analyses revealed that only tumor stage was independently associated with overall survival, suggesting that elevation of COX-2 itself may not be an independent prognostic factor. The present study shows that elevation of COX-2 may contribute to lymph node metastasis in AC of uterine cervix. This suggests that the potential therapeutic role of COX-2 inhibitors should be validated, not only in SCC, but also in AC of uterine cervix.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute and Hospital, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Gyeonggi, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sokbom
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Moon Hong
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: In Ae
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jae Weon
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Noh Hyun
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Daehee
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Keun-Young
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Soon Beom
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Hyo Pyo
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yong Sang
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2