Association between cyclooxygenase-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression in non-small cell lung cancer.
BACKGROUND
Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) contributes to invasiveness of cancer through activation of several matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) is a proteolytic enzyme that degrades the extracellular matrix, and has been linked to invasion and metastasis. This study aims to assess the correlation of the COX-2 expression and the MMP-2 expression in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).


METHODS
We analyzed the protein expressions of COX-2 and MMP-2 by immunohistochemical staining on the tissue array specimens from 204 patients with completely resected NSCLC. A <10% immunostaining of the cancer cells was considered negative, while >10% was considered positive.


RESULTS
The COX-2 expression was positive in 68.1% and that of the MMP-2 was positive in 45.6%. The positive expression rate of MMP-2 (52.5%) in the positive COX-2 group was higher than that in the negative COX-2 group (30.8%, P = 0.004). Furthermore, the MMP-2 expression was associated with lymph node involvement, the tumor stage and the histological type. The patients with a positive MMP-2 expression showed a reduced survival (P = 0.048).


CONCLUSIONS
The COX-2 expression is associated with the MMP-2 expression in NSCLC patients: the latter may also be associated with tumor progression and reduced survival in NSCLC patients.
Byun
Jae Ho
JH
Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Catholic University, Seoul 137-040, South Korea.
Lee
Myung Ah
MA
Roh
Sang Young
SY
Shim
Byoung Yong
BY
Hong
Sook Hee
SH
Ko
Yoon Ho
YH
Ko
Su Jin
SJ
Woo
In Sook
IS
Kang
Jin Hyoung
JH
Hong
Young Seon
YS
Lee
Kyung Shik
KS
Lee
Ah Won
AW
Park
Gyeong Sin
GS
Lee
Kyo Yeong
KY
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018287:Carcinoma, Large Cell / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016019:Survival Analysis
D007527:Isoenzymes; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2