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Epstein‐Barr Infection Does Not Affect Cyclooxygenase‐2 Protein Expression in Gastric Cancer
Author(s) -
Knight Elizabeth R.W.,
Tang Weihua,
Ryan Julie L,
Kenney Shan,
Gulley Margaret L
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a382-a
Subject(s) - immunohistochemistry , cyclooxygenase , cancer , carcinogenesis , cancer research , monoclonal antibody , epstein–barr virus , antibody , virus , medicine , cancer cell , biology , immunology , pathology , enzyme , biochemistry
Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) infection has been linked to 10% of gastric cancers, but EBV's role in carcinogenesis still needs to be elucidated. We showed that cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) mRNA levels decrease 50‐fold upon EBV infection of the AGS gastric cancer cell line. To assess the clinical significance of this result, we used a COX‐2 monoclonal mouse antibody to evaluate protein expression in AGS cells and in paraffin‐embedded gastric cancer tissues by immunohistochemistry. In both EBV‐ positive (n=9) and EBV ‐negative (n=9) gastric cancers, about two‐thirds of tumor cells displayed moderate to strong COX‐2 expression, and COX‐2 expression patterns were not associated with EBV status. Additionally, EBV‐positive AGS cells expressed COX‐2 protein at equivalent proportion and intensity as EBV‐negative AGS cells. These results indicate that COX‐2 protein is expressed in gastric carcinomas independently of EBV status. Future research should investigate COX‐2 inhibition as a potential treatment for both forms of gastric cancer.