title: [Expression and significance of COX-2 and its transcription factors NFAT3 and c-Jun in non-small cell lung cancer].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cyclooxygenases (COX), the key enzymes in the conversion of arachidonic acid (AA) to prostaglandins (PGs), are involved in initiation and progression of cancer. The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between the expressions of COX-2 and several transcription factors in non-small cell lung cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunohistochemistry was performed to assay the expression levels of COX-2, c-Fos, c-Jun and nuclear factor of activated T cells 3 (NFAT3) in tissue microarray containing 159 tumor tissues of non-small cell lung cancer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The positive rate of COX-2 expression was 42.8%, and the expression of COX-2 was significantly higher in squamous cell carcinoma than that in adenocarcinoma (52.9% vs 31.3%, χ²=7.723, P=0.005). The expression of COX-2 was significantly associated with differentiation grade, with the lower level in the poorer differentiation grade group (χ²=7.600, P=0.022). In this panel of samples, the expression of COX-2 was significantly correlated with c-Fos expression (r=0.456, P<0.001) and NFAT3 level (r=0.294, P<0.001). The correlation between the expressions of NFAT3 and c-Fos were also observed (r=0.231, P=0.003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The expression of COX-2 was significantly associated with the expressions of transcription factors NFAT3 and c-Fos in nonsmall cell lung cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Cancer Institute and Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China.
authors.forename: Xiaohong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Zhaoli
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Shouhua
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; C494010:NFATC4 protein, human; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2