BACKGROUNDNewborn blood vessel formation correlates closely with active cellular proliferation of tumor. The aim of this study is to explore the relationship of expression of COX-2 and VEGF, MVD with CT enhancement appearance of lung cancer.

METHODSDynamic CT scans were evaluated in 25 patients with lung cancer and 35 patients with pulmonary benign disease who underwent complete resection and did not receive any chemotherapy or radiotherapy prior to operation. Expression of COX-2, VEGF and MVD were detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe levels of COX-2 (P < 0.05), VEGF (P < 0.05), MVD (P < 0.05) and CT enhancement value (P < 0.01) in lung cancer group were significantly higher than those in plumonary benign tumor group. The levels of COX-2, VEGF and MVD were closely related to CT enhancement value, histological type, clinical stages and lymph node metastasis, but not to differentiation grade of lung cancer.

CONCLUSIONSCOX-2, VEGF and MVD may be important molecular biological predictors in early diagnosis and prognosis estimation of lung cancer. Dynamic CT enhancement scans can reflect the vascularity characteristics of lung cancer, and it may be helpful to determine the involvement, metastasis and prognosis of lung cancer.