Expression of embryonic lethal abnormal vision (ELAV)-like protein HuR and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in Ewing sarcoma.
OBJECTIVE
HuR is a member of the family of ELAV (embryonic lethal abnormal vision)-like proteins that stabilize several cellular mRNAs by binding to AU-rich elements in the 3' untranslated region of the mRNA. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is a well known enzyme that promotes tumor growth and metastasis. Recent studies have shown that HuR can stabilize the mRNA of COX-2, and cytoplasmic expression of HuR is associated with increased COX-2 expression in some cancers. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between COX-2 and HuR in Ewing sarcoma.


METHODS
The expression patterns for HuR and COX-2 were assessed via immunochemical analysis of 70 Ewing sarcoma samples.


RESULTS
Nuclear HuR expression was observed in 12 of 70 (17.1%) cases, but cytoplasmic expression was not observed. COX-2 expression was seen in 25 of 70 (35.7%) samples. Nuclear HuR and COX-2 were simultaneously expressed in 8 of 70 (11.4%) samples. The expression of nuclear HuR was significantly associated with COX-2 expression (P = 0.014). Neither HuR nor COX-2 expression showed a correlation with age or sex.


CONCLUSIONS
COX-2 expression in Ewing sarcoma may not be directly related to mRNA stabilization by HuR. However, a correlation between COX-2 expression and nuclear HuR expression through indirect mRNA stabilization can be suggested.
Do
Sung-Im
SI
Department of Pathology, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
Araujo
Eduard Santini
ES
Kalil
Ricardo K
RK
Bacchini
Patrizia
P
Bertoni
Franco
F
Unni
K Krishnan
KK
Park
Yong-Koo
YK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000737:chemistry; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000032:analysis*; D051959:ELAV Proteins; D000067780:ELAV-Like Protein 1; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D012512:Sarcoma, Ewing / Q000737:chemistry*
D000954:Antigens, Surface; D051959:ELAV Proteins; D000067780:ELAV-Like Protein 1; C098770:ELAVL1 protein, human; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2