[Suppression of COX-2 protein to cell apoptosis in non-small cell lung cancer].
BACKGROUND
One of mechanisms of carcinogenesis is suppression of cell apoptosis which leads to accumulation of aberrant cells. The aim of this study is to investigate cell apoptosis and COX-2 protein expression in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).


METHODS
Cell apoptosis, expression of COX-2 and microvessel density (MVD) were detcted in 111 NSCLC samples by TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) technique and immunohistochemical staining.


RESULTS
The positive rate of COX-2 protein expression was 67.6% (75/111), and there were 53 patients with high level cell apoptosis (47.7%). Expression of COX-2 protien was significantly related to TNM stages (P=0.025) and lymph node metastasis (P=0.018). The MVD in NSCLC tissues with positive COX-2 expression was significantly higher than that in negative expression ones (P=0.000). COX model showed that lymph node metastasis (P=0.006) and positive expression of COX-2 protein (P=0.000) were independent prognostic factors of NSCLC.


CONCLUSIONS
The expression of COX-2 protein may suppress cell apoptosis of tumor, and it may serve as a potential marker of prognosis for NSCLC.
Department of Pathology, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liao-ning 110001, P.R.China.
Limei
L
Sun
Yue
Y
Zhao
Lujian
L
Wang
Min
M
Song
Jiye
J
Song