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Depth of invasion parallels increased cyclooxygenase‐2 levels in patients with gastric carcinoma
Author(s) -
Ohno Ryo,
Yoshinaga Keigo,
Fujita Takeshi,
Hasegawa Kumi,
Iseki Hideaki,
Tsunozaki Hidefumi,
Ichikawa Wataru,
Nihei Zenro,
Sugihara Kenichi
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(20010515)91:10<1876::aid-cncr1209>3.0.co;2-h
Subject(s) - immunohistochemistry , medicine , pathology , cyclooxygenase , cancer , carcinoma , staining , carcinogenesis , biology , enzyme , biochemistry
BACKGROUND Nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs may reduce the incidence of intestinal carcinoma, presumably through inhibition of cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2). The authors correlated tumor expression of COX‐2 with clinicopathologic features in tissues from patients with gastric carcinoma. METHODS Thirty‐three surgical specimens, including carcinomas and corresponding noncancerous mucosa, were sampled. Reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction analysis was performed concomitantly for COX‐1 and COX‐2. A COX‐2 index was determined from the band density ratio of COX‐2 to constitutively expressed COX‐1. Immunohistochemical staining with COX‐2 antibody and routine histologic assessment were performed in the same specimens. RESULTS The COX‐2 index in gastric carcinoma was significantly higher than in normal mucosa (3.4 ± 0.7 vs. 2.2 ± 0.7; P < 0.05). COX‐2 indices were significantly higher in gastric carcinoma tissues with deep invasion; indices for pT1, pT2, pT3, and pT4 carcinomas were 0.8 ± 0.3, 2.8 ± 0.5, 4.3 ± 1.0, and 8.8 ± 5.5, respectively ( P < 0.05). Immunohistochemistry demonstrated COX‐2 protein diffusely in the cytoplasm of tumor cells but not in surrounding stroma or in noncancerous mucosa. CONCLUSIONS COX‐2 mRNA expression in gastric carcinoma tissue is correlated closely with depth of invasion, indicating that COX‐2 is involved in the growth of gastric carcinoma. Cancer 2001;91:1876–81. © 2001 American Cancer Society.