title: Cyclooxygenase-2 expression in lymphoma in north-west of iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lymphomas are a group of malignancies affecting B, T and NK cells. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme is one of the known inflammatory factors which increase during the inflammation process. Increase in COX-2 expression inhibits apoptosis and increases tumor cells invasion and angiogenesis. Increase in the COX-2 gene expression is seen in a group of cancers. Specific COX-2 inhibition also can be beneficial in some cancers through apoptosis stimulation.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this descriptive-analytic study, the degree of COX-2 expression was evaluated in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The following variables were used in this study: gender, age, lymphoma type, the stage of disease, the degree of disease, the existence of B symptom, extranodal involvement, response to treatment, death and LDH levels. Paraffin-embedded tissue blocks from 153 cases of non-Hodgkin' and Hodgkin' lymphoma were selected for immunohistochemical staining of COX-2 expression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  COX-2 level was reported positive in 4 (4.7%) patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and 4 (5.7%) with Hodgkin's lymphoma. Fifteen patients experienced relapses and 9 died during the median follow-up of 7 years. There was no significant relationship between quantitative and qualitative variables and COX-2 expression. Also, there was no relationship between COX-2 and type of lymphoma (P=0.476).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to our results, no relationship between COX-2 expression and type of lymphoma was found. We recommend more patient involvement to assess COX-2 expression. Apparently, it seems that the patient's race (Azari) may have an impact on the results of this study.
authors: Associate professor of hematology-oncology, Hematology-oncology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: Zohreh
authors: Z
authors: Sanaat
authors: Professor of pathology, pathology department, shariati hospital, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Seyed-Mohammad
authors: SM
authors: Tavangar
authors: Professor of hematology-oncology, Hematology-Oncology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: Jalil Vaez
authors: JV
authors: Gharamaleki
authors: Professor of hematology-oncology, Hematology-Oncology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: Iraj Aswadi
authors: IA
authors: Kermani
authors: Associate professor of hematology-oncology, Hematology-oncology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: Jamal Eivazi
authors: JE
authors: Ziae
authors: Associate professor of hematology-oncology, Hematology-oncology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: Alireza
authors: A
authors: Nikanfar
authors: Assistant professor of hematology-oncology, Hematology-Oncology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Esfahani
authors: Assistant professor of hematology-oncology, Hematology-Oncology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: Seyyed Hadi
authors: SH
authors: Chavoshi
authors: Assistant professor of statistic, Faculty of Mathematic, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Bevrani
authors: Internist, Hematology-Oncology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: Farideh
authors: F
authors: Akbari
keywords: COX-2; Hodgkin lymphoma; Non-Hodgkin lymphoma