Suppression of COX-2 protein to cell apoptosis in non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract

One of mechanisms of carcinogenesis is suppression of cell apoptosis which leads to accumulation of aberrant cells. The aim of this study is to investigate cell apoptosis and COX-2 protein expression in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Cell apoptosis, expression of COX-2 and microvessel density (MVD) were detcted in 111 NSCLC samples by TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) technique and immunohistochemical staining. The positive rate of COX-2 protein expression was 67.6% (75/111), and there were 53 patients with high level cell apoptosis (47.7%). Expression of COX-2 protien was significantly related to TNM stages (P=0.025) and lymph node metastasis (P=0.018). The MVD in NSCLC tissues with positive COX-2 expression was significantly higher than that in negative expression ones (P=0.000). COX model showed that lymph node metastasis (P=0.006) and positive expression of COX-2 protein (P=0.000) were independent prognostic factors of NSCLC. The expression of COX-2 protein may suppress cell apoptosis of tumor, and it may serve as a potential marker of prognosis for NSCLC.