title: Cyclooxygenase-2 expression is related to prognosis in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Esophageal carcinoma is one of the most aggressive malignancies. Many studies have examined various biological factors associated with the malignant potential of esophageal carcinoma. Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 is overexpressed in various types of human malignancies, including esophageal carcinomas. Although some groups have described COX-2 expression in esophageal adenocarcinoma, few studies have reported COX-2 expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  We immunohistochemically investigated relationships between COX-2 overexpression in surgical specimens of primary tumors in 228 patients with ESCC. Relationships between COX-2 expression and clinicopathological factors, including prognosis, were analyzed. COX-2 expressions were classified into 4 criteria: Score 0, no staining; Score 1, <10% staining; Score 2, 10-90% staining; and Score 3, >90% staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Scores of COX-2 immunoreactivity in 228 patients were as follows: Score 0, 21 of 228; Score 1, 71of 228; Score 2, 117 of 228; and Score 3, 19 of 228, respectively. COX-2 expression was significantly correlated with depth of invasion and tumor stage (p=0.03 and p=0.04, respectively). The 5-year survival rate of patients decreased significantly with increased expression of COX-2 (p=0.005). Multivariate regression analysis indicated COX-2 expression as an independent prognostic factor for ESCC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  COX-2 overexpression was significantly correlated with depth of invasion, tumor stage and survival in ESCC. Evaluation of COX-2 expression should be useful for determining tumor properties, including prognosis, in patients with ESCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, Digestive Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kagoshima University, Sakuragaoka 8-35-1, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takatori
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Natsugoe
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okumura
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Uchikado
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Setoyama
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tamotsu
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Owaki
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ishigami
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aikou
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2