title: Association of cyclooxygenase-2 immunoreactivity with tumor recurrence and disease progression in superficial urothelial bladder cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The main characteristic of urothelial bladder cancer is a clear predisposition to recurrence and disease progression. The aim of this study was to assess the possible relationship between cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) immunoreactivity in superficial urothelial bladder carcinoma and tumor grade, stage, number of recurrences and clinical disease progression.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective study 70 consecutive patients who underwent transurethral resection for superficial urothelial bladder cancer were included. Tumor slides were immunohistochemically stained for COX-2, and COX-2 immunoreactivity in tumor and inflammatory stromal cells was categorized as negative or mildly, moderately or strongly positive. Patients were followed up for 2 years, and during this period the possible association of COX-2 immunoreactivity with tumor stage and grade, number of recurrences and progression of disease was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  COX-2 immunoreactivity in tumor cells was found in 57 (81.4%) patients and did not correlate with tumor grade, stage of disease, number of recurrences, and progression of disease. COX-2 immunoreactivity in inflammatory cells was found in 16 of the 57 patients with COX-2 positive tumors, and was significantly related to the number of recurrences, time to appearance of the first recurrence, and disease progression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  COX-2 immunoreactivity in inflammatory stromal cells adjacent to the COX-2-positive tumor might be useful in clinical practice for selection of patients with a high risk of tumor recurrence and disease progression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Zagreb University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia. ivica.mokos@zg.htnet.hr
authors.forename: Ivica
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mokos
authors.forename: Jasminka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jakić-Razumović
authors.forename: Zvonimir
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mareković
authors.forename: Josip
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pasini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000201:enzymology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D019459:Urothelium / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2