Localization of cyclo-oxygenase-2 in human recurrent colorectal cancer.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this paper is to examine COX-2 expression in human recurrent colorectal carcinoma tissues using immunohistochemistry and quantative real-time PCR (qPCR).


METHODS
Colon and rectal specimens were obtained from 26 patients with recurrent colorectal carcinomas. We examined COX-2 expression in human recurrent colorectal carcinoma tissues using immunohistochemistry and quantative real-time PCR (qPCR).


RESULTS
In recurrent colorectal cancer a strong cytoplasmic and perinuclear staining of COX-2 was found. Moderate to strong immunosignals were detected in almost all of the carcinomas. We observed a strong specific staining of COX-2 in vascular endothelium. COX-2 immunoreactivity was also detected in stromal cells such as mononuclear cells, fibroblasts, and smooth muscle cells. The real-time PCR analyses demonstrated marked overexpression of the COX-2 gene in the cancer mucosa in concert with the immunohistochemistry data.


CONCLUSIONS
We investigated COX-2 expression at the level of its protein as well as its messenger RNA in a series of recurrent colorectal cancers. These observations give additional information about the possibility that COX-2 could be involved in tumor promotion during colorectal cancer progression.
Loukanov
Ts
Ts
Surgical Clinic, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 110, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany. Tsvetomir.Loukanov@med.uni-heidelberg.de
Kirilov
M
M
Fürstenberger
G
G
Müller-Decker
K
K
D002277:Carcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000201:enzymology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human