COX-2 expression in malignant melanoma: a novel prognostic marker?
Several studies illustrated considerably elevated levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein in various types of human cancer including malignant melanoma. Recently, it was reported that COX-2 is strongly expressed in malignant melanoma and may be correlated with the development and progression of disease. In contrast, other groups did not detect COX-2 protein in primary melanoma cells but did in infiltrating inflammatory cells or metastases. However, there are no reports about patterns or alterations of COX-2 expression in melanoma cells during disease progression or of a correlation between COX-2 expression and overall survival. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is a correlation between expression of COX-2 protein and disease prognosis in malignant melanoma. We therefore analyzed the expression of COX-2 protein by immunohistochemistry in 101 primary malignant melanomas and 28 metastases and correlated our data with Breslow tumor thickness, Clark levels, different melanoma subtypes, metastases, and overall survival. We detected a strong COX-2 expression in 95% of all primary melanomas, primarily restricted to melanoma cells as shown by various immunohistochemical methods. Levels of COX-2 expression in primary melanoma and corresponding metastases remained stable. A significant correlation between immunohistochemical staining intensity and tumor thickness was demonstrated. Furthermore, Kaplan-Meier curves illustrated a significant correlation between staining intensity and disease-specific survival. Our findings emphasize that the COX-2 protein might be a novel prognostic marker. Owing to its strong expression in melanoma cells it might also be a reasonable therapeutic target.
Department of Dermatology, University of Heidelberg, Vossstrasse 2, Heidelberg 69115, Germany. maria.becker@web.de
Maria R
MR
Becker
Markus D
MD
Siegelin
Rainer
R
Rompel
Alexander H
AH
Enk
Timo
T
Gaiser
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011379:Prognosis
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2