Cyclooxygenase-2 expression in chronic gastritis and gastric carcinoma, correlation with prognostic parameters.
BACKGROUND
Cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) is the inducible form of cyclooxygenase enzyme. Cox-2 is induced in numerous processes such as cellular growth, differentiation, inflammation and tumorogenesis.


OBJECTIVE
Assessment of Cox-2 expression in chronic gastritis and gastric carcinoma.


METHODS
Sixteen chronic gastritis (CG) and 43 gastric carcinoma cases were subjected to an immunohistochemical approach using anti Cox-2 antibody.


RESULTS
All CG cases displayed positive epithelial Cox-2 expression with only 25% positivity for stromal expression. Eighty six percent of gastric carcinoma showed epithelial Cox-2 expression that was significantly correlated with lymph node involvement (p<0.01), advanced stage (p=0.01), high microvessel density (MVD) (p=0.0001), vascular invasion (p=0.002), perineural invasion (p=0.01) and low apoptotic count (p<0.0001). Stromal Cox-2 expression was seen in 79% of gastric carcinoma cases and was significantly associated with low apoptotic count (p=0.0007), vascular invasion (p=0.001) and high microvessel density (MVD) (p=0.0003). Only stromal Cox-2 expression was significantly higher in gastric carcinoma than chronic gastritis (p=0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Cox-2 appears to be involved in gastric carcinoma progression as it promotes angiogenesis, suppresses apoptosis and facilitates invasion and metastasis. Double expression of Cox-2 in gastric carcinoma epithelium and stroma and significant association between them demonstrate a paracrine cross effect between stromal and malignant epithelium.
Samaka
Rehab M
RM
The Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Menofiya University, Shebein Elkom, Egypt.
Abdou
Asmaa G
AG
Abd El-Wahed
Moshira M
MM
Kandil
Mona A
MA
El-Kady
Noha M
NM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005756:Gastritis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2