Expression of Cyclooxygenase-2 and Embryonic Lethal Abnormal Vision-Like Protein HuR in Gallbladder Carcinoma.
- Author:
Sung Im DO
1
;
Gou Young KIM
;
Sung Jig LIM
;
Youn Wha KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Pathology, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. kimyw@khu.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Gallbladder neoplasms;
Cyclooxygenase 2;
ELAV-like protein 1
- MeSH:
Cyclooxygenase 2;
Cytoplasm;
Gallbladder;
Gallbladder Neoplasms;
ELAV Proteins;
ELAV-Like Protein 1;
Humans;
Lymph Nodes;
Neoplasm Metastasis;
Prognosis;
Proteins;
RNA, Messenger
- From:Korean Journal of Pathology
2010;44(1):42-47
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is an enzyme that promotes proliferation of tumor cells. HuR is a member of the family of embryonic lethal abnormal vision-like proteins. Recent studies show that cytoplasmic HuR stabilizes the mRNA of COX-2 and regulates the expression of COX-2. Moreover, cytoplasmic HuR expression is associated with a poorer prognosis for patients with some cancers. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression patterns of and the relationship between COX-2 and HuR in gallbladder carcinoma. METHODS: We analyzed COX-2 and HuR expression by immunohistochemical staining of 108 gallbladder carcinomas. RESULTS: COX-2 expression and nuclear and cytoplasmic HuR expression were seen in, respectively, 61 (56.5%), 77 (71.3%), and 4 (3.7%) cases. COX-2 and nuclear HuR were simultaneously expressed in 44 of the 108 samples without any quantitative association between the levels of each. COX-2 expression correlated with tumor stage, differentiation (based on histology), lymph node metastasis, perineural invasion, and survival. Nuclear and cytological expression of HuR did not correlate with any clinical parameters. CONCLUSIONS: COX-2 expression but not HuR may play an important role in the prognosis of patients with gallbladder carcinoma.
