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Immunohistochemical expression of cyclooxygenase‐2 in skin cancers
Author(s) -
Kagoura Masayori,
Toyoda Masahiko,
Matsui Chihiro,
Morohashi Masaaki
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of cutaneous pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.597
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1600-0560
pISSN - 0303-6987
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0560.2001.028006298.x
Subject(s) - immunohistochemistry , staining , cyclooxygenase , pathology , malignancy , medicine , biology , enzyme , biochemistry
Background: Cyclooxygenase (COX), also known as prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase, catalyses the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostanoids. There are two different isoforms of COX, referred to as COX‐1 and COX‐2. Overexpression of COX‐2 has been demonstrated in various neoplasms, such as experimentally promoted tumors, gastrointestinal cancers and breast tumors. Methods: In this study, we used immunohistochemistry to investigate COX‐2 expression in a series of basal cell epitheliomas (BCE), Bowen’s disease, squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) and metastatic tumors of the skin. Results: Four of 16 BCE showed a positive reaction for COX‐2 and the adenoid type of BCE was the most strongly positive. In Bowen’s disease, the extent of positive staining for COX‐2 was even higher than that in BCE. Eleven of 15 SCC showed a positive reaction for COX‐2 and the pattern of staining was heterogeneous with more intense staining in the center of the tumor nests. In metastatic tumors, the percentage of COX‐2‐positive tumor cells and the intensity of their staining was low compared with Bowen’s disease and SCC. Conclusions: These results indicate that the intensity of COX‐2 staining and its heterogeneous distribution are related to the degree of cellular differentiation and the various phenotypes of tumor cells, but the extent of COX‐2 staining did not correlate with the degree of malignancy.