Clinical significance of cyclooxygenase-2 expression in extranodal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether there are any differences in therapeutic response, patterns of systemic recurrence, and prognosis of patients with extranodal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type, by the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression.


METHODS
Thirty-four patients with Ann Arbor Stage I and II extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma who underwent chemotherapy or radiotherapy, or both, were retrospectively reviewed. These patients were divided into two groups according to their immunohistochemical staining for COX-2 expressions: a COX-2-negative group (n = 10 patients) and a COX-2-positive group (n = 24 patients). The treatment response, patterns of treatment failure, and survival data for the patients were compared between the COX-2-positive and negative groups.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference in the clinical profiles between the COX-2-negative and COX-2-positive groups. All patients (100%) in the COX-2-negative group achieved complete response after initial treatment, whereas only 14 patients (58%) in the COX-2-positive group achieved complete response (p = 0.03). Compared with the patients in the COX-2-negative group, those in the COX-2-positive group had a significantly lower 2-year systemic recurrence-free survival rate (100% for the COX-2-negative group vs. 54% for the COX-2-positive group) (p = 0.02) and a decreased 5-year overall survival rate (70% for the COX-2-negative group vs. 32% for the COX-2-positive group) (p = 0.06).


CONCLUSIONS
Cyclooxygenase-2 expression can serve as a predictive factor for poor treatment response, higher systemic recurrence, and unfavorable prognosis in patients with extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type.
Shim
Su Jung
SJ
Department of Radiation Oncology, Yonsei Cancer Center, Brain Korea 21 Project for Medical Sciences, Yonsei University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Yang
Woo-Ick
WI
Shin
Eunah
E
Koom
Woong Sub
WS
Kim
Yong Bae
YB
Cho
Jae Ho
JH
Suh
Chang Ok
CO
Kim
Joo Hang
JH
Kim
Gwi Eon
GE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D016399:Lymphoma, T-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000532:radiotherapy; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2