Positive correlation between cyclooxygenase 2 and the expression of ABC transporters in non-small cell lung cancer.
BACKGROUND
The primary method of treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in stage IIIB and IV is chemotherapy. Previous data suggested a correlation between cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and the multidrug-resistant phenotype of cancer cells.


METHODS
In this prospective study, 32 patients with NSCLC in stage IIIB and IV from 1,078 patients were included. The expression of COX-2 as well as the expression of the ABC transporters MDR1/P-glycoprotein (MDR1/P-gp), BCRP and MRP1 were detected immunohistochemically.


RESULTS
Univariate and multivariate analyses demonstrated no prognostic or predictive significance of these proteins. It was merely demonstrated that complete or partial response are favourable factors for prediction of longer progression-free survival time. However, a strong positive correlation between the expression of COX-2, MDR1/P-gp and BCRP was found in NSCLC.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest no clinical impact for the expression of MDR1/P-gp, MRP1, BCRP or COX-2 in NSCLC, but a putative coregulation of COX-2 and MDRI/P-gp and BCRP in NSCLC.
Surowiak
Paweł
P
Charité-University Medicine Berlin, Campus Mitte, Institute of Pathology, D-10117 Berlin, Germany.
Pawełczyk
Konrad
K
Maciejczyk
Adam
A
Pudełko
Marek
M
Kołodziej
Jerzy
J
Zabel
Maciej
M
Murawa
Dawid
D
Drag
Marcin
M
Gansukh
Tserenchunt
T
Dietel
Manfred
M
Lage
Hermann
H
D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000368:Aged; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate
D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2