title: Expression of Cyclooxygenase-2 in Human Breast Carcinoma: Relevance to Tumor Angiogenesis and Expression of Estrogen Receptor.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigates the COX-2 expression in human primary breast carcinomas and its relationship with both angiogenesis and the expression of estrogen receptor.
  
  
  METHODS
  COX-2 expression, angiogenesis, and estrogen receptor expression were examined by immunohistochemical methods in 167 human breast carcinomas by using monoclonal antibodies against COX-2, CD34, and estrogen receptor protein.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although COX-2 was expressed in 77.8% of the breast carcinomas (130/167) regardless of histological types, it was not detected at all in benign epithelial cells. Interestingly, COX-2 expression was found to be significantly correlated with tumor angiogenesis (p=0.004), but not with estrogen receptor and other histopathologic parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that COX-2 expression occurs frequently in breast tissue during transformation of benign epithelial cells to malignant cells regardless of the estrogen receptor status. COX-2 expression may play a role in tumor angiogenesis that is responsible for tumor growth and metastasis.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Park
keywords: Angiogenesis; Breast neoplasm; Cyclooxygenase-2; Estrogen receptor