title: COX-2 expression pattern is related to ovarian cancer differentiation and prognosis, but is not consistent with new model of pathogenesis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Numerous studies suggest that cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is overexpressed in cancer. Our objective was to investigate the relationship between COX-2 expression in ovarian carcinoma and clinicopathological factors. An emphasis was put on the association with the new pattern of tumorigenesis that divides tumors into type I--less aggressive, and type II--more aggressive one. The prognostic significance of COX-2 expression was evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ovarian cancer tissues were obtained from 65 patients in FIGO III stage (23 with type I and 42 with type II ovarian cancer). COX-2 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. The statistical analysis was performed in order to assess the connection between COX-2 expression and characteristic factors of ovarian cancer patients as well as the new division for type I and type II ovarian cancer
  
  
  RESULTS
  COX-2 expression was detected in 91% of tissue samples. It was markedly elevated in well differentiated tumors (p = 0.0041). The platinum-resistant tumors had significantly higher expression of COX-2 (p = 0.0337). There was no difference between COX-2 expression in type I and type II ovarian cancer (p = 0.6720). The COX-2 staining was not associated to age, CA125 level, the presence of ascites or any special histological type. An increased expression of COX-2 was an unfavorable prognostic factor for overall survival (p = 0.0369) and progression-free survival (p = 0.0218). Multivariate analysis confirmed that COX-2 overexpression is an independent unfavorable prognostic factor of shorter progression-free survival (p = 0.048).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  COX-2 expression is an unfavorable prognostic factor for progression-free survival and overall survival in ovarian cancer There is no relationship between COX-2 expression in ovarian cancer tissue and the examined model of ovarian cancer pathogenesis.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Magnowska
authors.forename: Mikołaj
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zaborowski
authors.forename: Paweł
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Surowiak
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nowak-Markwitz
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zabel
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spaczyński
mesh_terms: D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008954:Models, Biological; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D015996:Survival Rate; D016387:Women's Health
chemical_list: D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human