Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in gastric carcinoma and its correlation with angiogenesis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 in gastric carcinomas, and to correlate this expression with clinicopathological parameters and angiogenesis.


METHODS
Ninety-six resected tumor specimens from patients with gastric carcinoma were obtained, and 30 corresponding paracancerous normal tissues were randomly selected as a control. Immunohistochemical staining was used for detecting the expression of COX-2 and MMP-9. Monoclonal antibody against CD34 was used for displaying vascular endothelial cells, and microvascular density (MVD) was calculated by counting of CD34-positive vascular endothelial cells.


RESULTS
The positive expression rates of COX-2, MMP-9 and MVD in the cancerous tissue were 80.2%, 74.0%, and 32.5 +/- 8.3, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in the normal tissue (P < 0.01). COX-2, MMP-9 expression rates and MVD in the patients with stages III and IV were 91.4%, 84.5% and 34.9 +/- 8.7, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in the patients with stages I and II (P < 0.01). In addition, the Spearman rank correlation test showed that tumor MVD was closely associated with COX-2 (r = 0.311, P < 0.01) and MMP-9 (r = 0.349, P < 0.01) expressions.


CONCLUSIONS
Overexpression of COX-2 and MMP-9 is related to tumor invasion and lymph node metastasis in the gastric carcinoma. These results provide evidence that COX-2 contribute to gastric cancer development by promoting MMP-9 expression and angiogenesis.
Sun
Wei Hao
WH
Department of Geriatrics, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing 210029, China. weihaosun@hotmail.com
Sun
Yun Liang
YL
Fang
Ren Nian
RN
Shao
Yun
Y
Xu
Hai Chen
HC
Xue
Qi Ping
QP
Ding
Guo Xian
GX
Cheng
Yun Lin
YL
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000032:analysis; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D018952:Antigens, CD34; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9