[Evaluation of cyclooxygenase-2 in the prediction of liver metastasis of colorectal carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in colorectal carcinoma and its correlation with liver metastasis of colorectal carcinoma.


METHODS
The expression of COX-2 was detected using immunohistochemical methods in 30 colorectal carcinoma tissues without liver metastasis, 30 with preoperative liver metastasis, 30 with postoperative liver metastasis and 30 surrounding normal colorectal tissues. And its correlation with gender, age, Dukes stages was analyzed too.


RESULTS
The expression of COX-2 in colorectal carcinoma was significantly higher than that in surrounding normal colorectal tissue (P < 0.05), and meanwhile, its level in colorectal carcinoma without liver metastasis was significantly lower than those in tissues with preoperative or postoperative liver metastasis (P < 0.05). The COX-2 level had no correlation with gender, age, histological type, histological grade or the preoperative serum CEA and CA 19-9 levels in colorectal carcinoma (P > 0.05), but it was related to Dukes stages and lymph node metastasis.


CONCLUSIONS
COX-2 plays a role in the course of generation, development and metastasis of colorectal carcinoma. The high expression of COX-2 in colorectal carcinoma tissues may be considered as an indicator for liver metastasis.
Lu
Xue-yi
XY
Department of General Practice, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
Xu
Jian-min
JM
Zhong
Yun-shi
YS
Ren
Li
L
Lai
Yan-han
YH
Qin
Xin-yu
XY
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen / Q000097:blood; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000097:blood; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human