title: Association between cyclooxygenase-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression in non-small cell lung cancer.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Catholic University, Seoul 137-040, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Byun
authors.forename: Myung Ah
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sang Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Roh
authors.forename: Byoung Yong
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.forename: Sook Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Yoon Ho
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Su Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: In Sook
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.forename: Jin Hyoung
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Young Seon
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Kyung Shik
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ah Won
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Gyeong Sin
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Kyo Yeong
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2