Study of COX-2, Ki67, and p53 expression to predict effectiveness of 5-flurouracil, epirubicin and cyclophosphamide with celecoxib treatment in breast cancer patients.
BACKGROUND
Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) affects cell proliferation, apoptosis, and metastasis of breast cancer, and may also be involved in tumor angiogenesis through vascular endothelial growth factor. Ki67 and p53 are common markers of proliferation and apoptosis in tumor cells. This study investigated the change in expression of COX-2, Ki67, and p53 in solid tumors after the administration of chemotherapeutic drugs.


METHODS
Fifty patients were eligible to be treated with preoperative 5-fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide, with celecoxib (FECC). Tumor tissue samples from 10 patients who, diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma, completed chemotherapy were examined immunohistochemically for COX-2, Ki67, and p53.


RESULTS
From the 60% of patients who expressed COX-2 and 90% who expressed Ki67 and p53 before treatment, 90% of patients revealed a lower intensity staining for each marker after FECC treatment. However, changes in expression of the three markers did not significantly correlate with tumor size, grade, axillary lymph node status. Immunostained slides clearly showed that the diaminobenzidine intensity was markedly reduced after the three-cycle FECC treatment, which implied the combined regimens be effective to the cancer patients.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates a novel relationship between COX-2, Ki67, and p53 expression of human breast invasive ductal carcinomas. This functional relationship provides support for a potential therapeutic role of COX-2 inhibitors in human breast cancer.
Chow
L W C
LW
Hung Chao Hong Integrated Center for Breast Diseases, Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong Medical Center, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, China. lwcchow@hkucc.hku.hk
Loo
W T Y
WT
Wai
C C Y
CC
Lui
E L H
EL
Zhu
L
L
Toi
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D000068579:Celecoxib; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D016158:Genes, p53 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D011720:Pyrazoles; D013449:Sulfonamides; D015251:Epirubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D000068579:Celecoxib; D005472:Fluorouracil