title: Cyclooxygenase-2 immunoexpression in breast cancer: progesterone receptor influence.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In breast cancer cyclooxygenase-2 overexpression is related with poor outcomes, but the clinical relevance of cyclooxygenase-2 is still unclear. Progesterone receptor is a regulator of cyclooxygenase-2 expression. We postulate that progesterone receptor was associated to cyclooxygenase-2 expression and clinicopathologic factors in breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cyclooxygenase-2 and progesterone receptor expression was analyzed, by immunohistochemistry, in 31 cases of invasive ductal carcinoma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and progesterone receptor was observed in 64.5% and 45.2% of the tumors, respectively. We found 11 tumors with both cyclooxygenase-2 and progesterone receptor overexpression and they are related with tumor lower size and lower axillary node metastasis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that progesterone receptor has a protective role in breast cancer by inhibiting chronic inflammatory pathway.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Sciences, Beira Interior University, Faculty of Health Science, Portugal. micaelacpalmeida@gmail.com
authors.forename: Micaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fonseca-Moutinho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2