Cyclooxygenase-2 expression: a significant prognostic indicator for patients with colorectal cancer.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

Recent studies have shown that cyclooxygenase (Cox)-2 may be involved in colorectal carcinogenesis. We aimed to determine whether Cox-2 expression in itself can predict outcome of colorectal cancer patient after surgery. In addition, the expression of Cox-1 was also evaluated.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN:

Tissue samples of primary and secondary tumors from 288 patients undergoing surgical resections for colorectal adenocarcinoma were immunohistochemically examined for Cox-2 and Cox-1 expressions. The specimens were graded based on the intensity and extent of staining; then, the correlations between Cox-2 and Cox-1 expressions with clinicopathologic parameters and survival time were analyzed.

RESULTS:

Expression of Cox-2 was positive in 70.8% of primary tumor, 92.0% of lymph node metastases, 100.0% of hepatic metastases, and was significantly associated with tumor size, depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, vessels invasion, stage and recurrence. In contrast, Cox-1 was positive in 42.7% of primary tumor, 84.0% of lymph node metastases, 37.5% hepatic metastases, and was associated with only tumor size. Patients with Cox-2-positive tumors had a significant shorter survival time than those with negative tumors did (P = 0.0006 by log-rank test); and, in a multivariate analysis, Cox-2 was an independent prognostic factor (P = 0.0103; relative risk 4.114; 95% confidence interval, 1.397-12.120). Cox-1 status had no statistically effect on patient survival time.

CONCLUSIONS:

Elevated Cox-2 expression, but not that of Cox-1, was significantly associated with reduced survival and recognized as an independent prognostic factor in our cohort of colorectal cancer patients.

• Authors: Labile Togba Soumaoro, Hiroyuki Uetake, Tetsuro Higuchi, Yoko Takagi, Masayuki Enomoto, Kenichi Sugihara
• Journal: Clinical cancer research : an official journal of the American Association for Cancer Research (Clin Cancer Res) Vol. 10 Issue 24 Pg. 8465-71 (Dec 15 2004) ISSN: 1078-0432 [Print] United States
• PMID: 15623626 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers, Tumor
• Membrane Proteins
• Cyclooxygenase 1
• Cyclooxygenase 2
• PTGS1 protein, human
• PTGS2 protein, human
• Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases

Topics

• Adenocarcinoma (diagnosis, enzymology)
• Biomarkers, Tumor (metabolism)
• Cohort Studies
• Colon (metabolism)
• Colonic Neoplasms (diagnosis, enzymology)
• Cyclooxygenase 1
• Cyclooxygenase 2
• Female
• Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
• Humans
• Immunoenzyme Techniques
• Liver Neoplasms (enzymology, secondary)
• Lymphatic Metastasis (diagnosis)
• Male
• Membrane Proteins
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasm Invasiveness (diagnosis)
• Neoplasm Recurrence, Local (diagnosis, enzymology)
• Prognosis
• Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases (metabolism)
• Rectal Neoplasms (diagnosis, enzymology)
• Rectum (metabolism)
• Survival Rate