title: Cyclooxygenase-2 expression in oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cyclooxygenase-2 expression is associated with unfavorable outcome in various cancers, and evidence is accumulating that carcinogenesis possibly evolves from intracellular changes in response to induction of this enzyme. Today selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors are being studied and used as complement in cancer treatment. This study examined the prognostic value of cyclooxygenase-2 expression in oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 was determined in biopsies from 76 stage matched patients with OTSCC by immunohistochemistry between January 2000 and December 2004 in Stockholm, Sweden. Additionally, twelve samples taken after pre-operative radiotherapy were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All OTSCC specimen expressed cyclooxygenase-2 by immunostaining. The cyclooxygenase-2 staining intensity increased significantly with more advanced stage (P=0.020). Fifty percent of the surgical specimen showed a decrease in immunostaining post-radiation (P=0.031). No association was found with survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cyclooxygenase-2 expression has limited prognostic value in OTSCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institute and Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. michael.ryott@karolinska.se
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ryott
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marklund
authors.forename: Darawalee
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wangsa
authors.forename: Göran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Elmberger
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Munck-Wikland
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2