Tissue microarray-determined expression profiles of cyclooxygenase-2 in colorectal adenocarcinoma: association with clinicopathological parameters.
Accumulated evidence reveals that increased cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is involved in the development of colorectal cancer. Our purpose was to quantitate COX-2 expression in colorectal cancers using tissue microarray analysis and look for an association with clinicopathological stage. Immunohistochemical analysis of COX-2 was performed in tissue microarray slides containing 90 specimens including 32 well-differentiated, 35 moderately differentiated, and 23 poorly differentiated colorectal adenocarcinomas. All colorectal adenocarcinomas showed significant immunohistochemical expression of COX-2 when compared to normal colon epithelia. However, there was no significant difference in immunostaining scores between poorly, moderately, and well-differentiated tumors (195 +/- 28, 214 +/- 26 and 200 +/- 24, respectively). The COX-2 immunostaining score correlated significantly with T stage (P < 0.05) but not with N or M stage. The positive expression rates of CK20 were 97% for well-differentiated, 94% for moderately differentiated, and 65% for poorly differentiated colorectal adenocarcinomas, suggesting that CK20 may not be an effective discriminator between poorly differentiated colorectal adenocarcinoma and metastatic adenocarcinoma.
Wu
Chi-Ying
CY
Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei , Taiwan 114, ROC.
Lee
Wei-Hwa
WH
Wang
Jia-Yi
JY
Chiang
Hung
H
Chang
Junn-Liang
JL
Tsai
Wen-Chiuan
WC
Sheu
Lai-Fa
LF
Jin
Jong-Shiaw
JS
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D046888:Tissue Array Analysis
D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2