Cyclooxygenase 2 expression in soft tissue leiomyosarcoma.
BACKGROUND
Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) expression is up-regulated and associated with adverse prognosis in select types of carcinoma. Although not extensively studied in skeletal or soft tissue sarcoma, expression of COX2 has been described in a variable number of gynecological and non-gynecological leiomyosarcomas. In this study, the prevalence and prognostic implications of COX2 expression in leiomyosarcoma were evaluated further.


METHODS
Immunohistochemical stains for COX2 were performed on 33 samples of soft tissue leiomyosarcoma and tested for their association with clinicopathological parameters and patient outcome.


RESULTS
COX2 staining was limited to tumor cells surrounding areas of tumor necrosis in 6 cases. There were no statistically significant correlations with the clinicopathological parameters studied, including local recurrence, distant metastasis, or disease-specific death.


CONCLUSIONS
The low frequency, restricted distribution and absence of prognostic implications of COX2 expression soft tissue leiomyosarcoma suggest that this enzyme may not be a useful pharmacological target in this clinical setting.
Herceg
Megan E
ME
Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation Department, Vanderbilt Orthopaedic Institute, 1215 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
Tsiatis
Athanasios C
AC
Halpern
Jennifer L
JL
Holt
Ginger E
GE
Schwartz
Herbert S
HS
Keedy
Vicki L
VL
Cates
Justin M M
JM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007890:Leiomyosarcoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000556:secondary; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human