title: Cyclooxygenase 2 expression in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and vulvar cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to describe the expression of cyclooxygenase (COX) 2 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and vulvar cancer specimens.
  
  
  METHODS
  Archived tissues from 21 cases including 6 cases negative for CIN (no CIN), 71 low-grade (CIN 1) diseases, 8 high-grade (CIN 2, 3) diseases, and 14 vulvar cancer cases were examined. Immunohistochemistry was evaluated in COX-2 expression in tissue using an isoform-specific COX-2 polyclonal antibody. Specimens were assigned an immunohistochemical score for intensity of staining and the percent of cells stained. The slides were scored by 2 independent pathologists and compared across histological categories.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A greater proportion of cells were stained in specimens with high-grade CIN (p = 0.01). Staining intensity was not statistically different among the 3 groups. Higher scores were found for vulvar cancer as compared with normal vulva (p = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The increase in COX-2 in cervical cancer precursors may provide a potential target for prevention studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: J Michael
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Newton
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brite
authors.forename: Janine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Einspahr
authors.forename: Malathi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nuno
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Alberts
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Garcia
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D014846:Vulvar Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human