Expression of Cyclooxygenase-2 and its Relationship to p53 Accumulation in Colorectal Cancers.
10.3349/ymj.2007.48.3.495
- Author:
Sung Chul LIM
1
;
Tae Bum LEE
;
Cheol Hee CHOI
;
So Yeon RYU
;
Kyung Jong KIM
;
Young Don MIN
Author Information
1. Research Center for Resistant Cells, Chosun University College of Medicine, Gwangju, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords:
Cyclooxygenase-2;
p53;
colorectal cancer;
immunohistochemistry
- MeSH:
Adenocarcinoma/*metabolism/pathology/surgery;
Aged;
Colorectal Neoplasms/*metabolism/pathology/surgery;
Cyclooxygenase 2/*metabolism;
Female;
Humans;
Immunohistochemistry;
Male;
Middle Aged;
Mutation;
Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/genetics/*metabolism
- From:Yonsei Medical Journal
2007;48(3):495-501
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 is an inducible isoform responsive to cytokines, mitogens, and growth factors, and is believed to be an important enzyme related to colorectal cancer (CRC). Existing evidence suggests that COX-2 expression is normally suppressed by wild-type p53 but not mutant p53, suggesting that loss of p53 function may result in the induction of COX-2 expression. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between COX-2 expression and p53 levels in CRC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with sporadic colorectal adenocarcinoma (n=161) who underwent curative surgery in Chosun University Hospital were enrolled in this study. Expression of COX-2 and p53 proteins was examined by immunohistochemistry in paraffin-embedded cancer tissue blocks, and the relationship between COX-2 and/or p53 expression with clinicopathologic parameters was analyzed. RESUTLS: Expression of COX- 2 was positive in 47.8% of colorectal cancers, and significantly associated with the depth of tumor invasion (p= 0.042). In contrast, p53 was positive in 50.3% of the cases, and was associated with both age (p=0.025) and the depth of tumor invasion (p=0.014). There was no correlation between COX-2 expression and p53 expression (p=0.118). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that COX-2 expression might play an important role in the progression of colorectal cancer. However, COX-2 expression was not associated with mutational p53. Further studies are needed to clarify the regulatory mechanisms governing COX-2 overexpression in colorectal cancers.
