BACKGROUNDTo explore the relationship between the expression of COX-2 and pathophysiological features in female pulmonary adenocarcinoma patients.

METHODSExpression of COX-2 protein was detected in 50 cases of female pulmonary adenocarcinoma tissues and 50 cases of paracancerous tissues by streptavidin-biotin immunoperoxidase method.

RESULTSThe positive rates of COX-2 expression were 78% and 26% in tumor tissues and paracancerous tissues respectively, and there was a highly significant difference between the two groups (Chi-square=27.08, P < 0.01). No significant difference was found among COX-2 expression level, age (P=0.50), smoking history (P=1.0), differentiation grade of tumor cells (P=0.712), TNM stage (P=0.591), size of primary tumor (P=0.63) and lymph nodes metastasis (P=0.88).

CONCLUSIONSOverexpression of COX-2 may play an important role in oncogenesis of female lung adenocarcinoma.