OBJECTIVETo study the relation between cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein expression and biologic behavior of ovarian carcinoma.

METHODSThe level of COX-2 protein expression was detected by Western Blot assay in 54 biopsy specimens from ovarian serous tumor patients and 10 normal ovarian samples.

RESULTSThe level of COX-2 protein expression and relative quantity in ovarian serous carcinoma (81.8%, 20.08 +/- 3.53) were statistically higher than those in the benign ovarian serous tumor (0, 15.04 +/- 0.12) and in the normal ovary (0, 15.33 +/- 0.60) (P < 0.05). The level of COX-2 protein expression and relative quantity in borderline ovarian serous tumor (90.0%, 20.61 +/- 3.03) were statistically higher than those in benign ovarian serous tumor and the normal ovary (P < 0.05). The level of COX-2 protein expression and relative quantity were not significantly different from ovarian serous carcinoma and borderline ovarian serous tumor (P > 0.05); as they were between the benign ovarian serous tumor and the normal ovary (P > 0.05). The level of COX-2 protein expression and relative quantity were not significantly different among different clinical stages (I + II and III + IV), different histological grades, with or without ascites or lymphatic metastasis either.

CONCLUSIONCOX-2 overexpression may be significantly related to the oncogenesis and development of ovarian serous carcinoma, which may be an early diagnostic parameter and, hence, an attractive target for chemopreventive strategy in the treatment of ovarian serous carcinoma.