title: Overexpression of cyclooxygenase-2 in gastric cancer correlates with the high abundance of vascular endothelial growth factor-C and lymphatic metastasis.
abstract: Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C are closely related with the development and metastasis of tumors. The gene expression of COX-2 and VEGF-C in gastric cancer and the correlation between them were investigated; 64 paraffin-embedded gastric cancer samples and 22 flesh gastric cancer samples were tested by using immunohistochemistry and the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technology, respectively. The mean expressive density of COX-2 and VEGF-C mRNA in gastric cancer, with beta-actin coamplified as an internal standard, were both significantly higher than those in non-cancerous gastric mucosa (1.363 +/- 0.351 vs 0.763 +/- 0.304, 0.972 +/- 0.331 vs 0.314 +/- 0.215, p < 0.001). The positive rates of COX-2 and VEGF-C in 64 gastric cancer samples were 72% and 64% respectively. Their expression in the lymph-node metastasis groups were higher than that of the non-lymph-node metastasis groups (p < 0.05). Moreover, there was a close correlation between COX-2 and VEGF-C expression levels (p < 0.05). The study indicates gastric tumor tissues that produce COX-2 and VEGF-C may have a higher lymphatic invasion and metastatic potential. COX-2 may participate in VEGF-C lymphangiogenic pathway and the high expression of them may play an important role in the lymphatic proliferation and spread in gastric cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Jiefang road 238, 430060 Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hong-Gang
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Jie-Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Xiao-Ling
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiao-Dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: He-Sheng
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Luo
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C467486:VEGFC protein, human; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2