Effects of Cyclooxygenase-2 Expression on Lymphangiogenesis and Lymph Node Metastasis in Gastric Cancer Tissues.
10.5230/jkgca.2006.6.4.284
- Author:
Huan CHUN
1
;
Sung Joon KWON
;
Seung Sam PAIK
;
Young Soo SONG
Author Information
1. Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea. sjkwon@hanyang.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Gastric cancer;
COX-2;
VEGF-C;
Lymph node metastasis;
Lymphangiogenesis
- MeSH:
Classification;
Cyclooxygenase 2*;
Humans;
Immunohistochemistry;
Lymph Nodes*;
Lymphangiogenesis*;
Negotiating;
Neoplasm Metastasis*;
Stomach Neoplasms*;
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C
- From:Journal of the Korean Gastric Cancer Association
2006;6(4):284-290
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Many previous studies have suggested that cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) over expression is closely related to angiogenesis. However, few have reported the relationship between COX-2 and lymphangiogenesis which is still unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between COX-2 expression and lymphangiogenetic factor, VEGF-C, in human gastric cancer and to correlate COX-2 and VEGF-C expression with other clinocopathological features to investigate whether COX-2 contributes to lymphangiogenesis and enhances lymph node metastasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred patients who underwent curative radical surgery in Hanyang University hospital from July 1998 to June 2001 were selected. The expression of COX-2 and VEGF-C were detected by using immunohistochemistry, and the relationships between these two parameters and several clinicopathological factors (gender, stage, lymph node status, tumor location, Lauren classification and angioinvasion) were determined. RESULTS: Increased COX-2 expression was found in 86 of 100 tumor samples (86%) and in 70 of 100 tumor samples (70%) with VEGF-C. A high correlation between VEGF-C expression and lymph node metastasis was observed (P=0.033) along as well as COX-2 expression (P=0.012). Also, there was a significant correlation between COX-2 and VEGF-C expression (P=0.026), yet no correlation were found between COX-2 and VEGF-C expression and other clinicopathological parameters. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that COX-2 expression contributes to lymphangiogenesis by mediating VEGF-C and finally promoting lymph node metastasis.
