Abstract
Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) has been claimed to play role in carcinogenesis and be related to a bad prognosis in tumours. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between COX-2 expression and clinical and pathological parameters in early and advanced stage lung cancer patients. A total of 73 patients with lung cancer (27 adenocarcinomas, 33 squamous cell carcinomas, 4 large cell carcinomas and 9 small cell cancer) were analysed retrospectively. COX-2 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in resection materials or lung biopsies. Tumor cells demonstrating more intense staining than smooth muscle and endothelial cells were recorded as COX-2 positive. We investigated the correlation between increased COX-2 expression and histological type of the tumor, the stage of the disease and survival. COX-2 expression was observed in 55% of the adenocarcinomas, 45% of the squamous cell carcinomas and 22% of the small cell carcinomas. No correlation was apparent between COX-2 expression and disease stage, histological type and the survival. The results of this study do not support COX-2 expression as an independent prognostic factor in lung cancer. However, since results of the literature are different, further studies made in larger series are needed.
Highlights
The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between COX-2 expression and clinical and pathological parameters in early and advanced stage lung cancer patients
We investigated the correlation between increased COX-2 expression and histological type of the tumor, the stage of the disease and survival
COX-2 expression was observed in 55% of the adenocarcinomas, 45% of the squamous cell carcinomas and 22% of the small cell carcinomas
Summary
Lung cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer related deaths. 80% of the lung cancers are histologically non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) (Travis et al.,1995). 25% of these patients are diagnosed at early stages. Lung cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer related deaths. 25% of these patients are diagnosed at early stages. The prognosis in early stage NSCLC patients is relatively better, recurrence and corresponding mortality are still common. COX-2 is related to inflammation and carcinogenesis. Prognostic factors in lung cancer are the stage of the disease and patient’s performance status. It is clinically important to identify reliable prognostic factors for disease recurrence. Increased COX-2 expression is a significant prognostic factor in NSCLC (Achiwa et al, 1999; Khuri et al, 2001; Brabender et al, 2002). The relation between the COX-2 expression and clinicopathological parameters is not clear in these patients. We investigated COX-2 as a molecular prognostic factor in lung cancer patients
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