title: [Expressions of cyclooxygenase-2 and basic fibroblast growth factor in nasopharyngeal carcinoma and their association with radiotherapy sensitivity].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To detect the expressions of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and evaluate their value in predicting the radiotherapy sensitivity in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).
  
  
  METHODS
  The expressions of COX-2 and bFGF were detected immunohistochemically in biopsy samples of NPC, and their relationship with the radiotherapy sensitivity of the tumors were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 97 NPC cases, the positivity rates of COX-2 and bFGF were 71.1% (69/97) and 64.9% (63/97), respectively. Correlation analysis demonstrated that a positive COX-2 expression was positively correlated with an advanced T status and N status, and bFGF expression was positively associated with an advanced N status in NPCs. In radiotherapy-sensitive and radiotherapy-insensitive cases, the positive rate of COX-2 was 62.8% and 92.6%, and that of bFGF was 57.1% and 85.2%, respectively. The expression of COX-2 was positively correlated with that of bFGF (r=0.486, P<0.05). The radiotherapy sensitivity differed significantly among patients with different statuses of COX-2 and bFGF positivity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  COX-2 and bFGF can be effective and sensitive biomarkers for predicting radiotherapy sensitivity in NPC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China. E-mail: 594357558@qq.com.
authors.forename: Jian-Fu
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Wen-Hui
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Feng-Zhi
authors.initials: FZ
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Yi-Ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Cheng-Hai
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Zhuang
mesh_terms: D002277:Carcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D000077274:Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D011836:Radiation Tolerance
chemical_list: D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human