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Cyclooxygenase‐2 expression: a potential prognostic and predictive marker for high‐grade ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast
Author(s) -
Tan KB,
Yong WP,
Putti T C
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
histopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.626
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1365-2559
pISSN - 0309-0167
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2559.2004.01774.x
Subject(s) - immunohistochemistry , ductal carcinoma , medicine , cyclooxygenase , breast cancer , staining , mammary gland , pathology , tamoxifen , proportional hazards model , progesterone receptor , oncology , cancer , estrogen receptor , biology , enzyme , biochemistry
Aims : To study cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) expression in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast and its association with histological features. COX‐2, an inducible prostaglandin synthase, has been shown to be important in mammary carcinogenesis, being associated with increased tumour size and unfavourable outcome in breast cancer. Animal studies indicate that COX‐2 inhibition is effective in the prevention and treatment of mammary cancers. Methods and results : Fifty‐one cases of DCIS diagnosed during 1990–2000 were reviewed. Immunohistochemistry for COX‐2 was performed and the COX‐2 staining scores were correlated with histological features. The majority of cases [41 of 51 (80%)] had positive COX‐2 staining, of which 13 cases (25%) had strong staining. High nuclear grade DCIS was significantly associated with increased COX‐2 staining ( P = 0.04). Conclusions : High‐grade lesions are known to be associated with a higher recurrence rate following excision and are often oestrogen receptor negative, and as such, may be less responsive to adjuvant tamoxifen therapy. There is a need to examine further the role of COX‐2 expression in DCIS, as both a prognostic and predictive factor.