Expression of Cyclooxygenase-1 and 2 in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: A Clinicopathologic Study.

Abstract

BackgroundTo examine the rate and degree of expression of Cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and associated with clinicopathological factors and survival.MethodsEOC patients being treated in our institute with available pathological tissue sections during 1996-2003 were identified. Immunohistochemical staining with antibody to COX-1 and COX-2 were studied. Degree of expression was categorized into low and high levels. The degrees of immunohistochemistry staining were associated with clinicopathological factors and overall survival.ResultsA total of 107 patients were included in the study. Most of patients had stage 1 and 3, and the most common histology type was serous carcinoma. The expression rate of COX-1 and COX-2 was 83.2 % and 95.3 %, respectively. Non-mucinous tumor had significant higher level of expression of both COX-1 and COX-2. Except for a high level of expression of COX-2 in association with better response to chemotherapy, no significant association with other clinicopathologic factors were observed. Level of COX-1 or COX-2 expression did not associate with progression-free and overall survival. The combination of COX-1 and COX-2 level was analyzed and the combination of high COX-1 and low COX-2 level significant associated with short progression-free and overall survival.ConclusionEOC in our study showed high rate of COX-1 and COX-2 expression, especially in non-mucinous tumors. High level of COX-2 associated with better response to chemotherapy. Neither COX-1 nor COX-2 expression showed association with survivals while combination of high COX-1 and low COX-2 level of expression was associated with poor progression-free and overall survivals.