Clinical implications of expression of cyclooxygenase-2 related to angiogenesis in ovarian cancer.
Angiogenesis is essential for the development, growth and advancement of solid tumors. Cyclooxygenase (cox)-2 is recognized as an angiogenic factor in various tumors. This prompted us to study the clinical implications of cox-2 expression and angiogenesis in ovarian cancer. There was a significant correlation between microvessel counts and cox-2 levels. Cox-2 localized in the cancer cells, but not in the stromal cells of ovarian cancer tissue. Cox-2 levels increased with the advancement, and the prognosis of the 30 patients with high cox-2 expression was extremely poor (33%), while the 24-month survival rate of the other 30 patients, those with low cox-2 expression, was 67%. Furthermore, cox-2 levels significantly correlated with VEGF levels. VEGF associated with cox-2 might work on angiogenesis with advancement. Therefore, long-term administration of cox-2 inhibitors might be effective on the suppression of regrowth or recurrence after intensive treatment for advanced ovarian cancer.
Fujimoto
Jiro
J
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gifu University School of Medicine, Japan. jf@cc.gifu-u.ac.jp
Toyoki
Hiroshi
H
Sakaguchi
Hideki
H
Jahan
Israt
I
Alam
Syed Mahfuzul
SM
Tamaya
Teruhiko
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D011379:Prognosis; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2