title: Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in cervical cancer is associated with lymphovascular invasion.
abstract: Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is associated with carcinogenesis and tumor progression. The current study analyzed the effect of COX-2 expression in patients with invasive squamous cervical cancer. Tissue samples from 123 cervical cancer patients were collected for a retrospective analysis using immunohistochemistry (IHC) with an antibody against COX-2. The clinical and survival data of the patients were analyzed. Positive staining for COX-2 (defined as an immunoreactivity score of ≥4) was detected in 28 patients (23%), with significantly higher percentages of staining in tumor cells compared with peritumoral stroma cells (P<0.001). COX-2 expression was significantly associated with lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI; P=0.017). The association of COX-2 expression with LVSI suggests a possible effect of COX-2 on tumor progression in cervical cancer. Further studies including larger patient collectives are required in order to perform analyses of clinical subgroups and patient survival.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Lübeck and University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck Campus, Lübeck D-23538, Germany.
authors.forename: Friederike
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hoellen
authors.affiliation: Institute for Social Medicine and Epidemiology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck D-23538, Germany.
authors.forename: Annika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Waldmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Lübeck and University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck Campus, Lübeck D-23538, Germany.
authors.forename: Constanze
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Banz-Jansen
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Lübeck and University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck Campus, Lübeck D-23538, Germany.
authors.forename: Achim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rody
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Lübeck and University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck Campus, Lübeck D-23538, Germany.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heide
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Lübeck and University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck Campus, Lübeck D-23538, Germany.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Köster
authors.affiliation: Institute for Pathology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck D-23538, Germany.
authors.forename: Julika
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ribbat-Idel
authors.affiliation: Institute for Pathology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck D-23538, Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thorns
authors.affiliation: Institute for Pathology, Hamburg D-22339, Germany.
authors.forename: Maximilian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gebhard
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Section for Translational Surgical Oncology and Biobanking, University of Lübeck and University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck Campus, Lübeck D-23562, Germany.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oberländer
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Section for Translational Surgical Oncology and Biobanking, University of Lübeck and University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck Campus, Lübeck D-23562, Germany.
authors.forename: Jens K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Habermann
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Agaplesion Markus Hospital, Frankfurt D-60431, Germany.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thill
keywords: cervical cancer; cyclooxygenase-2; lymphangiosis; lymphovascular space invasion