title: Cyclooxygenase-2 expression is not associated with clinical outcome             in synovial sarcoma.
abstract: Several studies have identified cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in a             variety of sarcomas, including rhabdomyosarcoma, osteosarcoma and chondrosarcoma.             Although overexpression of COX-2 has been associated with poor prognosis and decreased             survival in chondrosarcoma and osteosarcoma, no relationship between COX-2 expression             and patient outcome has been demonstrated in rhabdomyosarcoma or adult soft tissue             sarcomas. Little is known concerning the expression of COX-2 in synovial sarcoma.             Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the expression of COX-2 in synovial             sarcoma and if shown, to identify any association with tumor stage and oncologic             outcome. Paraffin-embedded specimens from 27 patients with synovial sarcoma who             were treated with surgical resection or biopsy were obtained. Specimens were evaluated             for the degree of COX-2 expression after immunohistochemical staining. Specimens             were assigned an immunoreactivity score (IS) based on the percent positivity of             the specimen. A retrospective chart analysis was performed to determine the clinical             stage at presentation, incidence of local recurrence, presence of metastatic disease             and overall survival. Statistical analysis was then performed to determine whether             there was a significant relationship between IS and stage at presentation or patient             outcomes. COX-2 expression was detected in 18 of 27 (66.67%) of the pathological             specimens. There was a statistically significant relationship between COX-2 expression             and patient clinical stage at presentation; however, we were unable to identify             a significant relationship between IS and patient survival. We also found no significant             relationship between IS and development of metastases or local recurrence. COX-2             was expressed to some degree in 67% of the tumor specimens. There was a significant             relationship between IS and patient stage at presentation, but no significant             relationship between COX-2 expression and clinical outcome could be identified.             The fact that these tumors do express COX-2, however, suggests the potential for             an additional target for more effective therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, UF Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Institute, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA. emily.e.soni@medstar.net
authors.forename: Emily E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Carmody Soni
authors.forename: Benjamin J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Mark T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Scarborough
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reith
authors.forename: C Parker
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Gibbs
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D013584:Sarcoma, Synovial / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human