title: Cyclooxygenase-2 expression is associated with VEGF-C and lymph node metastases in gastric cancer patients.
abstract: Previous studies have suggested that cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) over-expression is associated with angiogenesis in gastric cancer. However, the relationship between COX-2 and lymphangiogenesis is still unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between COX-2 expression and lymphangiogenic factor, vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C), in human gastric cancer, as well as to correlate with clinicopathological parameters. Sixty-three gastric cancer patients underwent radical gastrectomy (D2 or D3) were enrolled in this study. The expression of COX-2 and VEGF-C were detected by immunohistochemistry, and the small lymphatic vessels were immunohistochemically stained by LYVE-1 antibody. The association between COX-2 and VEGF-C expressions and clinicopathological parameters (such as gender, tumor location, lymph node status and Lauren classification) were determined. VEGF-C over-expression was observed in 33 of 63 patients (52%), while COX-2 over-expression occurred in 42 of 63 tumor samples (67%). Presence of microlymphatic vessels with LYVE-1 staining was found in 35 cases. COX-2 over-expression was highly correlated with VEGF-C over-expression (P = 0.032), microlymphatic vessels (P = 0.002) as well as presence of metastatic lymph nodes (P = 0.007). However, no significant correlation was found between COX-2 expression and other clinicopathological parameters. Our data suggest that COX-2 expression is associated with lymphangiogenesis and lymph node metastasis in human gastric carcinoma. This raises the possibility that COX-2-mediated VEGF-C over-expression might promote lymph node metastasis via lymphangiogenesis pathway in patients with gastric cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Rui Jin Hospital, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Surgery, Shanghai Second Medical University, China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Y-Y
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: B-Y
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Z-G
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Y-Z
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology*; D042601:Lymphatic Vessels / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology*; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000378:metabolism*; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins
chemical_list: D006023:Glycoproteins; C119248:LYVE1 protein, human; C467486:VEGFC protein, human; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2