title: Cyclooxygenase-2 expression in proliferative Ki-67-positive breast cancers is associated with poor outcomes.
abstract: In order to investigate the implications of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in combination with Ki-67 on breast cancer outcomes, the COX-2 and Ki-67 expression levels and other clinicopathologic parameters were investigated in 861 breast cancers. Clinicopathological parameters and survival were investigated in association with the expression levels of both COX-2 and Ki-67 using univariate and multivariate analyses. COX-2 expression was positive in 493 (57.3%) of invasive tumors. COX-2 was associated with favorable markers, but was not related to survival outcome by itself. However, COX-2 in proliferative tumors [COX-2(+)/Ki-67(+)] were significantly associated with unfavorable factors and the worst survival, but COX-2 in non-proliferative tumors [COX-2(+)/Ki-67(-)] showed significantly favorable parameters and better outcomes. COX-2(-)/Ki-67(any) showed intermediate prognosis. The statistical significance was maintained in stage-matched and multivariate analyses. The results of present study suggest that COX-2 expression is a common event in breast cancers and may play in a different ways by the proliferation status of the tumor cells. Further studies should be carried out to verify the role of COX-2 by proliferative conditions of breast tumor cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. bwpark@yuhs.ac
authors.forename: Byeong-Woo
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Seho
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hyung Seok
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Ja Seung
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Koo
authors.forename: Woo Ick
authors.initials: WI
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jun Sang
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyewon
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Seung Il
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyong Sik
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2