title: Expression of COX-2 and prognostic outcome in uveal melanoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and its prognostic value in uveal melanoma was examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  Paraffin-embedded sections from 32 clinicopathologically well-characterized cases of primary uveal melanoma were immunohistochemically stained for COX-2. COX-2 expression was evaluated in terms of both the intensity and the extent of staining for each tumor. A COX-2 score encompassing both intensity and extent was also calculated for each specimen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  29 specimens (90.6%) contained moderate or intense positive immunoreactivity for COX-2. A statistically significant association (p<0.05) between COX-2 expression (intensity and score) and metastatic death was established.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Upregulation of COX-2 expression appears to be associated with poor prognosis in uveal melanoma.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Medical Science, UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, and Department of Ophthalmology, Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Lorna M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Cryan
authors.forename: Luminita
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Paraoan
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hiscott
authors.forename: Bertil E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Damato
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Grierson
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Farrell
authors.forename: Glen A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Doherty
authors.forename: Desmond J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
authors.forename: Colm
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: O'Brien
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002830:Choroid Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human