BACKGROUNDElevated expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) has been found to be a feature of tumors recently. In this study, the expression and significance of COX-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were explored in the cancer tissues of patients with lung cancer.

METHODSExpression of COX-2 and VEGF in cancer tissues of 126 lung cancer patients were detected by tissue chip and immunohistochemical methods. The relationships among COX-2 expression, survival time and the biology beha- vior of lung cancer were analyzed by retrospective cohort study.

RESULTSExpression of COX-2 was positive in 86 cases (68.25%). The correlation between COX-2 expression and some biology behaviors of lung cancer (T stage, N stage and P-TNM stage) was significant in statistics (P < 0.05). High expression of VEGF was also found in cancer tissues (98/126, 77.78%). The correlation between COX-2 expression and VEGF expression was significant in statistics (Chi-Square=6.72, P < 0.05). The survival time of patients with positive COX-2 expression and VEGF expression was significantly shorter than that without expression (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSHigh COX-2 and VEGF expressions are detected in lung cancer tissue. Each of them is suggested to be an independent predictor of survival in survival analysis. COX-2 and VEGF are significant poor prognostic factors in the surgically resected lung cancer.