title: Elevated expression of cyclooxygenase-2 is a negative prognostic factor for overall survival in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.
abstract: The production of prostaglandins is regulated by cyclooxygenases (COXs), which also have a role in tumour development and progression in various human malignancies, including cholangiocarcinoma. Limited information is available of the correlation of COX-2 protein expression and prognosis in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). The aim of the present study was to determine the clinical significance of COX-2 expression in ICC. In addition the correlation of COX-2 expression and apoptosis/proliferation was analysed. COX-2 expression was determined immunohistochemically in 62 resected ICCs. Proliferation was assessed using Ki67-immunohistochemistry, and apoptosis was measured with the TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end-labelling technique. COX-2 was identified as an independent prognostic factor (P = 0.028) in resected ICC by survival analysis. High levels of COX-2 expression were found to be associated both with reduced apoptosis and increased proliferation of tumour cells. This study demonstrates the independent prognostic value of the COX-2 expression in resected ICC, thus, offering a potential additional adjuvant therapeutic approach with COX-2 inhibitors.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology and Neuropathology, University Hospital of Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147 Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Klaus Jürgen
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Schmitz
authors.forename: Hauke
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: Jeremias
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wohlschlaeger
authors.forename: Henning
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.forename: Georgios Charalambos
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Sotiropoulos
authors.forename: Kurt Werner
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Schmid
authors.forename: Hideo Andreas
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Baba
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017209:Apoptosis; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human