title: Relation of the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in colorectal adenomas and adenocarcinomas to angiogenesis and prognosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recent studies have shown that cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 may be involved in tumor growth, invasion and apoptosis in various carcinomas. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has a potent angiogenic activity, and COX-2 promotes angiogenesis by modulating angiogenic factors, including VEGF. Endothelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) is considered as a factor of cell growth, maturation and cell death. The current study was designed to investigate the possible roles of COX-2 in colorectal tumor progression and angiogenesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty colorectal adenomas and forty adenocarcinomas were investigated by using immunohistochemical staining for COX-2, VEGF and EGFR. The correlations of COX-2, VEGF and EGFR with the grade of dysplasia, the size of the adenoma, and various clinicopathologic factors were studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expressions of COX-2, VEGF and EGFR were each significantly correlated with carcinomatous transformation, and the expressions of COX-2 and VEGF were significantly correlated. COX-2 and EGFR showed correlations with adenomas rather than adenocarcinomas. However, no correlations of COX-2, VEGF and EGFR expression to other clinicopathologic factors, except tumor size in EGFR expression, were detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that COX-2 may play an important role in carcinogenesis through interaction with VEGF and EGFR in human colorectal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yoon Dae
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Young Ki
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Jung Gu
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Yoon Jung
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Chan Heun
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Park