The effect of cyclooxygenase-2 expression on tumor volume response in patients treated with radiotherapy for uterine cervical cancer.
We investigated the correlation between Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and the tumor response in patients with cervical cancer that were treated with curative radiotherapy (RT). Fifty-seven patients with squamous cell carcinoma were treated with concurrent radiochemotherapy (CRCT, n=29) or RT alone (n=28). The response of each patient was evaluated by three serial Magnetic Resonance Imaging examinations: before the start of RT, at four weeks after the start of RT (mid-RT) and at four weeks after the completion of RT (post-RT). Forty-three patients had positive COX-2 expression. The COX-2 negative patients achieved a higher rate of complete response (CR) at mid-RT than did the COX-2 positive patients (28.6% vs. 7.0%, P=0.054), but not at post-RT (64.3% vs. 69.8%). The initial tumor volume was a significant predictor of CR at mid-RT (P=0.003) and post-RT (P=0.004). The multivariate analysis showed that the initial tumor volume (at mid-RT and post-RT) and CRCT (at post-RT) were significant predictors of CR; however, the COX-2 expression was not. In conclusion, the COX-2 expression status has no significant correlation with the tumor response. Further studies on the changes in COX-2 expression levels during RT may be helpful for determination of its role in the tumor response to treatment and patient prognosis.
Kang
Min Kyu
MK
Department of Radiation and Oncology, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Park
Won
W
Choi
Yoon-La
YL
Cho
Eun Yoon
EY
Ahn
Geunghwan
G
Nam
Heerim
H
Huh
Seung Jae
SJ
Ahn
Yong Chan
YC
Lim
Do Hoon
DH
Oh
Dong Ryul
DR
Bae
Duk Soo
DS
Kim
Byoung Gie
BG
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy
D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human