Prognostic significance of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in patients with surgically resectable adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus.
BACKGROUND
COX-2 expression in tumour cells has been associated with poor prognosis in gastrointestinal and non-gastrointestinal cancers. The aim of our study was to test the hypothesis that higher levels of COX-2 expression are prognostically related to poor clinico-pathologic features in adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus.


METHODS
We reviewed the records of 100 consecutive patients undergoing resection for adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus to collect data on T-stage, N-stage, tumour recurrence and survival. T & N-stage was further confirmed by histological examination. COX-2 protein expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry in all patients and COX-2 m-RNA expression was measured by quantitative RT-PCR in a small group of patients.


RESULTS
Higher levels of COX-2 expression were associated with higher T stage (p = 0.008), higher N stage (p = 0.049), increased risk of tumour recurrence (p = 0.01) and poor survival (p = <0.001). A COX-2 score of >200 was associated with a median survival of 10 months compared to 26 months with a score of <200 (p = <0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Higher levels of COX-2 expression are associated with poor clinico-pathologic features and poor survival in patients with oesophageal adenocarcinoma.
Bhandari
Pradeep
P
Department of Gastroenterology, Southampton University Hospital, Southampton, SO166YD, UK. pradeep.bhandari@porthosp.nhs.uk
Bateman
Adrian C
AC
Mehta
Raj L
RL
Stacey
Bernard Sf
BS
Johnson
Penny
P
Cree
Ian A
IA
Di Nicolantonio
Federica
F
Patel
Praful
P
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D016019:Survival Analysis
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2