[Expression and function of cyclooxygenase-2 in endometrial carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) expression at mRNA and protein levels, as well as its clinical significance, and to study the correlation of COX-2 with angiogenesis, apoptosis and estrogen or progestron receptors.


METHODS
Forty-one samples of normal endometrium tissues and 52 ones of endometrial carcinomas(EC) were collected, together with their corresponding clinical information. RT-PCR was adopted to determine the expression of COX-2 mRNA. Immunohistochemical staining was engaged to evaluate the protein expression of COX-2, VEGF, Bcl-2 and the MVD marked by CD105. And TUNEL was used to count the apoptosis cells.


RESULTS
(1)Significantly higher mRNA and protein levels of COX-2 were found in endometrial carcinomas than in normal endometrial tissues (P<0.001). (2)At protein level, COX-2 expression was related to the grade (P=0.020), but had nothing to do with the stage, pathological type, depth of myometrium invasion and lymph node metastasis.Neither did the level of COX-2 mRNA with all the factors above. (3)The level of COX-2 mRAN had nothing to do with that of protein(P=0.125, r=0.222). (4)The higher the expression of COX -2 protein was, the higher that of VEG, MVD or Bcl-2 was, and the lower the count of apoptosis cells was P<0.05. (5)The upregulation of COX-2 protein had no correlation with ER-alpha and ER-beta. But it had positive correlation with PRA and PRB, P was 0.031 and 0.007, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
(1)The expression of COX-2 is significantly higher in EC than in normal endometrium tissue, not only at the mRNA level, but also at protein level. (2)At protein level, COX-2 expression is related to the grade, but has nothing to do with the stage, pathological type, depth of myometrium invasion and lymph node metastasis. Neither does the level of COX-2 mRNA with all the factors above. (3)The upregulation of COX-2 protein in EC correlates with the increase of VEGF protein and MVD. (4)The upregulation of COX-2 protein in EC correlates with the increase of Bcl-2 protein and the decrease of apoptosis cells. (5)The upregulation of COX-2 protein in EC has no significant correlation with ER expression, but has something to do with the increase of PRA and PRB.
Chen
Jun-ya
JY
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China. xindichen@sina.com
Liao
Qin-ping
QP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018269:Carcinoma, Endometrioid / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human