title: Expression of Cyclooxygenase-2 and Bcl-2 in human gastric adenomas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 is the rate-limiting enzyme in prostaglandin synthesis. An increased expression has been implicated in the development and progression of human gastric cancers and colorectal adenomas and cancers. This study aimed to determine the involvement and association of COX-2 and Bcl-2 in precancerous gastric adenomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-nine gastric polyps were obtained by endoscopic mucosal resection or polypectomy from January, 2000 to July, 2003. Immunohistochemical expression of COX-2 and Bcl-2 was observed, and their relationships with various clinicopathological factors were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Histologically, 13 hyperplastic polyps and 66 tubular adenomas, of which 17 showed high-grade dysplasia, were observed. Increased COX-2 expression was observed in low-grade and high-grade tubular adenomas compared to hyperplastic polyps (p=0.004 and p=0.001, respectively). COX-2 expression was significantly higher in larger (>1 cm) compared with smaller (<1 cm) tubular adenomas (o=0.034), but no relation was observed in hyperplastic polyps. While Bcl-2 expression differed significantly according to histology, increased Bcl-2 expression was observed especially in COX-2 positive low-grade tubular adenomas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  COX-2 expression increased in a size-dependent manner in tubular adenomas, suggesting a role in polyp growth. The increased expression of Bcl-2 in tubular adenomas, especially in COX-2 positive tubular adenomas, suggests that COX-2 action may be related to Bcl-2 expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Kumi Cha Medical Center, Gumisi, Kyungsangbukdo, Korea. ishawe@hanmail.net
authors.forename: Jee Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Kyung Hee
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Se Hwan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jong Hyup
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chang Min
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Young Oh
authors.initials: YO
authors.lastname: Kweon
authors.forename: Sung Kook
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yong Hwan
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Han Ik
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.forename: Mi Sung
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2