title: Cyclooxygenase-2 expression is associated with vascular endothelial growth factor-c and lymph node metastasis in human oral tongue cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to determine the relationship of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor-c (VEGF-C) expression with lymphangiogenesis, lymph node metastasis (LNM), and other clinicopathologic features in human oral tongue cancers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty tongue cancer specimens were immunohistochemically examined for COX-2 and VEGF-C expression and for lymphatic vessel density (LVD). We analyzed the relationships between COX-2 and VEGF-C expression and the relationships of such expression with clinicopathologic findings and survival of patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighteen tumors out of 40 (45%) showed COX-2 expression, and 18 tumors (45%) expressed VEGF-C. Twelve tumors (30%) coexpressed COX-2/VEGF-C. A significant correlation was found between COX-2 and VEGF-C expression (P < .01). Of note, COX-2/VEGF-C coexpression significantly correlated with lymphangiogenesis, LNM, TNM stage (P < .01), and LVD (P < .05). In Cox regression for survival, COX-2/VEGF-C coexpression was identified as an independent prognostic factor (P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that examination of immunohistochemical expression of COX-2 and VEGF-C predicts LNM and survival in human oral tongue cancers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Osaka, Japan; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery II, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Osaka, Japan; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Seichokai Hannan City Hospital, Hannan, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Social Insurance Kinan Hospital, Tanabe, Japan; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Wakayama Wellness Foundation, Wakayama, Japan; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Seichokai Hannan City Hospital, Hannan, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobuo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hata
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Masako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakanishi
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Social Insurance Kinan Hospital, Tanabe, Japan.
authors.forename: Natsuko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kimoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Social Insurance Kinan Hospital, Tanabe, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Omata
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Osaka, Japan. Electronic address: tyoneda@dent.osaka-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoneda
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D042583:Lymphangiogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2