Expression of cyclooxygenase-2, glucose transporter-1 and angiogenesis in gallbladder carcinomas and their impact on prognosis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the angiogenic and prognostic role of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in gallbladder carcinomas. We assume COX-2 overexpression, neoangiogenesis and glucose transporter-1 (GLUT-1) to be involved in disease progression.


METHODS
The carcinoma tissues of 56 patients with gallbladder carcinomas were studied immunohistochemically for the expression of COX-2, GLUT-1 and micro-vessel density. The results were correlated with clinico-pathological features and survival/prognosis.


RESULTS
The overexpression of COX-2 in gallbladder carcinomas was significantly associated with increased angiogenesis and GLUT-1 expression. Neither angiogenesis nor the grade of the tumour correlate significantly with poor survival. Age, gender and a strong GLUT-1 expression were significant factors of adverse prognosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Next to age and gender of patients, hypoxia of gallbladder tumours is a factor influencing survival. Among hypoxic factors, GLUT-1 expression is an important (significant) denominator of poor prognosis in gallbladder carcinomas, but not COX-2 nor angiogenesis.
Legan
Mateja
M
Institute of Histology and Embryology, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia. mateja.legan@mf.uni-lj.si
Luzar
Bostjan
B
Marolt
Vera Ferlan
VF
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005706:Gallbladder Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D051272:Glucose Transporter Type 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D015996:Survival Rate
D051272:Glucose Transporter Type 1; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2