Evaluation of the immunoexpression of proinflammatory enzyme COX-2 and P53 gene in ulcerative colitis-associated dysplasia

Abstract

Background and aim Ulcerative colitis (UC) patients are at increased risk for colorectal dysplasia and colorectal cancer. The aim of this study was to analyze the expression alteration of proinflammatory enzyme cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and the tumor-suppressor gene P53 to clarify whether these alterations may play a role in the pathogenesis of dysplasia, which is a precancerous lesion. Patients and methods This study was conducted on 40 individuals who were divided into three groups: 15 UC patients without dysplasia, 15 UC patients with dysplasia, and 10 participants with normal colonoscopy and histopathology as a control group. Results There was a significant difference in the expression of Cox-2 and p53 in UC-related dysplasia compared with the UC group without dysplasia. There was a correlation between COX-2 and P53 expression and severity and duration of disease. Conclusion Addition of immunohistochemical analysis of Cox-2 enzyme and p53 gene to routine histologic assessment may improve the accuracy of early detection of dysplasia, which is a precancerous lesion, and thus decrease mortality from colorectal cancer.