Cox-2 Expression in Malignant Breast Tumors.
10.4174/jkss.2009.77.6.371
- Author:
Min Sung AN
1
;
Sang Hyo KIM
;
Hye Kyoung YOON
;
Woon Won KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Surgery, Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea. hnkim80@hotmail.com
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Breast cancer;
Cox-2
- MeSH:
Breast;
Breast Neoplasms;
Carcinoma, Ductal;
Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating;
Lymph Nodes;
Neoplasm Metastasis
- From:Journal of the Korean Surgical Society
2009;77(6):371-377
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Cox-2 expression in breast carcinoma has been reported to be related to angiogenesis, lymph node metastasis and Her-2 expression. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinicopathologic significance of Cox-2 expression in the invasive ductal carcinomas (IDC) and intraductal carcinomas (DCIS) of the breast. METHODS: The materials were 353 IDC cases and 82 DCIS cases. Immunohistochemical stain for Cox-2 was interpreted as 1+ (weak & focal) and 2+ (diffuse), and the relationships between Cox-2 and ER, PR, Her-2, p53, Ki-67 and bcl-2 expressions were analyzed. RESULTS: There was no significant difference of Cox-2 expression between IDC (148/353, 41.9%) and DCIS (38/82, 46.3%). Cox-2 (2+) expression was more frequent in low grade than intermediate and high grade IDC, but the difference was not significant statistically (P=0.0833), and there were no significant differences of Cox-2 expression according to age, tumor size, nuclear grade, lymph node metastasis in IDC and DCIS cases. In IDC cases, Cox-2 (1+ and 2+) expression showed positive relationships with p53 (+) and more than 10% of Ki-67 labeling index (P=0.0029, P=0.0015), and revealed tendencies of positive relationships with ER (+) and bcl-2 (+) (P=0.0750, P=0.0776). However, no significant relationship between Cox-2 and Her-2 expressions was recognized. In DCIS cases, Cox-2 (2+) expression rate was increased in cases showing negative for Her-2 (P=0.0092) and positive for bcl-2 (P=0.0486). CONCLUSION: Cox-2 expression seems to be involved in the development of breast carcinomas, but not related to the invasiveness. Cox-2 expression, especially 2+, in the DCIS cases suggest a possibility of less aggressive biological behavior.
