Correlation of COX-2 expression in stromal cells with high stage, high grade, and poor prognosis in urothelial carcinoma of upper urinary tracts.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate COX-2 expression in carcinoma and stromal cells in patients with urothelial carcinoma of upper urinary tracts (UCUUT) and determine whether expression patterns are associated with clinical characteristics and survival.


METHODS
We performed immunohistochemistry for COX-2 on paraffin-embedded tumors of UCUUT specimens from 79 patients. We evaluated the level of expression in carcinoma cells, presence of stromal cell expression, and infiltration of inflammatory cells.


RESULTS
We observed strong and moderate expression of COX-2 in carcinoma cells in 19 (24.1%) and 46 (58.2%) cases, respectively. In 36 (45.6%) cases COX-2 expression was present in stromal cells. The level of COX-2 expression in carcinoma cells was not correlated with pathological stage (P = 0.22) or grade (P = 0.45). COX-2 expression in stromal cells was correlated with high stage (P <0.0001) and high grade (P <0.0001). The patient's survival was reduced if the tumor revealed strong or moderate expression of COX-2 in carcinoma cells (P = 0.03), the presence of COX-2 expression in stromal cells (P <0.0001), and infiltrating inflammatory cells (P = 0.0001), by log-rank test. Prognosis was poor if the tumor was positive for both COX-2 expression in stromal cells and inflammatory cell infiltrate (P <0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
COX-2 expression in stromal cells shows greater correlation with high stage and high grade than COX-2 expression in carcinoma cells. Stromal COX-2 expression may be used as a marker of invasiveness and poor prognosis for patients with UCUUT.
Kang
Chih-Hsiung
CH
Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Chiang
Po-Hui
PH
Huang
Shun-Chen
SC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000737:chemistry*; D014516:Ureteral Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*
D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2