The relationship between the expressions of HuR and COX-2 in epithelial ovarian carcinoma

Abstract

Objective To detect the expressions of HuR and COX-2 in epithelial ovarian carcinoma,and investigate the correlation of HuR and COX-2 expression. In addition, we attempt to seek the pathway to prevent the occurrence and development of epithelial ovarian cancer by combined analysis of various clinicopathologic characteristics. Methods The expressions of HuR and COX-2 in 68 epithelial ovarian carcinoma, 10 borderline ovarian tumors and 5 normal ovarian tissues were examined by S-P immunohistochemical method. The relationship of HuR and COX-2 expressions with clinicopathologic parameterwere evaluated by correlation analysis. Results(1) The expression of HuR in epithelial ovarian cancer tissue (76. 47% ,52/68) was significantly higher than that in borderline epithelial ovarian tumor tissues (30. 00% ,3/10) and normal ovarian tissues (0, x2 = 18. 873, Ps ＜ 0. 05), but there were no significant differences betweenthe expressions of HuR in borderline epithelial ovarian tumor and normal ovarian tissue(P ＞ 0. 05).(2) The positive expression rate of cytoplasmic HuR in epithelial ovarian carcinoma and borderline epithelial ovarian tumor were 45.60% (31/68) and 10. 00% (1/10) respectively,but normal ovarian tissues showed no staining of HuR. We found no significant differences between the expression of cytoplasmic HuR in epithelial ovarian carcinoma and borderline epithelial ovarian tumor or normal ovarian tissue(x2 = 7. 999 ,P =0. 018).(3) The positive expression rate of cytoplasmic HuR in epithelial ovarian carcinoma of FIGO stage Ⅲ - Ⅳ was significantly higher than that of stage Ⅰ - Ⅱ(56. 09% vs. 29. 63%, x2 = 4. 598, P = 0. 032). The positive expression rates of cytoplasmic HuR in epithelial ovarian carcinoma of histological grade 1,2,3 were 10. 00%,46. 67% ,57. 14% respectively, which showed significant difference in the comparison among the three groups (x2 =6. 627 ,P =0. 036). (4) The positive expression rates of COX-2 in epithelial ovarian cancer (67. 64%)and borderline epithelial ovarian tumor tissues (60. 00%) were significantly higher than that in normal ovarian tissues (0, Ps ＜ 0. 05), but we found no significant difference in the comparison between the expression of malignant and borderline ovarian tumors. Statistical analysis showed that the positive expression rate of COX-2 in epithelial ovarian carcinoma was correlated with FIGO stage and lymph node metastasis. (5)There was a significantly positive correlation between cytoplasmic HuR and COX-2 expressions in epithelial ovarian carcinoma. Conclusion The expressions of HuR and COX-2 increased in the epithelial ovarian carcinoma, and the cytoplasmic expression of HuR was significantly correlated with the expression of COX-2. These results suggested that increased cytoplasmic expression of HuR and COX-2 expression might play important roles in the initiation and development of epithelial ovarian carcinoma. Key words: Epithelial ovarian carcinoma; HuR; COX-2; Immunohistochemistry