Cyclooxygenase-2 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma, cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis in the United States.
Aberrant expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in hepatocellular carcinoma was described in Asia. Using immunohistochemistry, we studied the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in hepatocellular carcinoma, chronic hepatitis, and cirrhosis in a US institution. A staining score of 0-5 representing the sum of an intensity score and a distribution score was used. The mean scores were 2.2+/-1.60 for chronic hepatitis, 4.37+/-1.15 for cirrhosis, and 4.76+/-0.54 for hepatocellular carcinoma. We found a significant difference in mean staining scores between chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis (p < 0.0001), as well as between chronic hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma (p < 0.0001). Fibrosis correlated with cyclooxygenase-2 staining score (r=0.65).


CONCLUSIONS
(1) Cyclooxygenase-2 expression is higher in cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma when compared to chronic hepatitis. (2) Cyclooxygenase-2 expression correlates with the stage of fibrosis. (3) These results imply that in chronic hepatitis and possibly in cirrhosis, hepatocarcinogenesis may be a cyclooxygenase-2 dependent mechanism.
Pazirandeh
Sassan
S
Department of Gastroenterology, Lahey Clinic, 41 Mall Rd., Burlington, MA 02143, USA. sassan_pazirandeh@lahey.org
Khettry
Urmila
U
Gordon
Fredric D
FD
Resnick
Robert H
RH
Murray
Jessica E
JE
Sheth
Sunil G
SG
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014481:United States
D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2