Cyclooxygenase-2 Expression in Ovarian Tumors.
- Author:
Woo Seok SOHN
1
;
Bong Sik MIN
;
Chang Mo KIM
;
Sung Joo KIM
;
Jung Bae KANG
;
Hye Rim PARK
;
Pong Rheem JANG
Author Information
1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Cyclooxygenase-2;
epithelial ovarian tumors
- MeSH:
Carcinogenesis;
Carcinoma;
Cyclooxygenase 2*;
Immunohistochemistry;
Mucins
- From:Korean Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
2001;44(7):1237-1241
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: A large body of evidence suggests that cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is important in tumorigenesis of gastrointestinal and other cancers. This was the study to determine whether COX-2 was also expressed in benign and malignant ovarian tumors. METHODS: We studied the expression of COX-2 in various ovarian tumors [ Benign epithelial tumors (n=10), borderline epithelial tumors (n=12), malignant epithelial tumor (n=12), nonepithelial tumors(n=10) ] by immunohistochemistry. Results of immunoreactivity was classified semiquantitatively based on the proportion and intensity of tumor cell immunostaining. RESULTS: In the epithelial ovarian tumors, the intensity of immunostaining was stronger in the malignant tumors than the benign and borderline tumors (p<0.001). Especially all serous and mucinous malignant tumors (n=9) showed weak and strong immunoreactivity, with 66.7% strong reactivity. None of the nonepithelial ovarian tumors expressed COX-2 immunoreactivity. CONCLUSION: These preliminary data indicate that COX-2 may have a role in carcinogenesis of epithelial ovarian tumors, especially in the serous and mucinous types. COX-2 maybe a target for future research in the tumorigenesis of the epithelial ovarian malignancies.
