Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor C and its clinicopathological significance in adenoma and adenocarcinoma of gallbladder

Abstract

Objective To study the expression levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) and their clinicopathological significance in benign and malignant lesions of gallbladder.Methods The expression levels of COX-2 and VEGF-C were detected by using immunohistochemistry in 44 cases of gallbladder cancer and 10 cases of gallbladder adenoma.Results The expression rate of COX-2 in gallbladder adenocarcinoma and adenoma was 72.7％ ％ and 40.0％ respectively.The expression rate of COX-2 in gallbladder adenocarcinoma was higher than that in gallbladder adenoma (P ＜ 0.05).The expression rate of VEGF-C in gallbladder adenocarcinoma was higher than that in gallbladder adenoma (63.6％ vs.20.0％,P ＜ 0.05).There was a significant correlation between the expression of COX-2,VEGF-C and Nevin stages and lymph node metastasis of gallbladder carcinoma.There was a significant relationship between COX-2 and VEGF-C.Conclusion The expression of COX-2 and VEGF-C might be closely related to the carcinogenesis and biological behaviors of gallbladder adenocarcino Key words: Gallbladder neoplasms; Cyclooxygenase-2; Vascular endoehelial growth factor C