PURPOSE: To determine if expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, an inducible enzyme with known tumor-promoting activity, correlates with outcome in pediatric sarcomas. COX-2 overexpression correlates with more aggressive disease in a variety of adult solid tumors. METHODS: Archived human osteosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and Ewing sarcoma tumors were retrospectively evaluated, blinded to outcome, for COX-2 expression by immunohistochemistry and correlated with patient characteristics and survival. RESULTS: COX-2 expression was detected in 94 of 142 (66%) tumors (osteosarcoma, 66/99 [67%]; rhabdomyosarcoma, 21/35 [60%]; Ewing sarcoma, 7/8 [88%]) and 51 of 85 (60%) diagnostic biopsies (osteosarcoma, 26/45 [58%]; rhabdomyosarcoma, 21/35 [60%]; Ewing sarcoma, 4/5 [80%]). COX-2 expression did not vary with clinicopathologic features and was not predictive of prognosis in these cases. CONCLUSIONS: This study does not support the use of COX-2 expression as an upfront prognostic variable in patients with osteosarcoma or rhabdomyosarcoma. Results from the small number of patients studied with Ewing sarcoma suggest a similar lack of predictive value for COX-2 expression. However, COX-2 inhibitors are not entirely dependent upon enzyme expression for their antitumor effects; this study does not necessarily preclude the use of COX-2 inhibitors for the treatment of pediatric sarcomas.
PURPOSE: To determine if expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, an inducible enzyme with known tumor-promoting activity, correlates with outcome in pediatric sarcomas. COX-2 overexpression correlates with more aggressive disease in a variety of adult solid tumors. METHODS: Archived humanosteosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and Ewing sarcoma tumors were retrospectively evaluated, blinded to outcome, for COX-2 expression by immunohistochemistry and correlated with patient characteristics and survival. RESULTS:COX-2 expression was detected in 94 of 142 (66%) tumors (osteosarcoma, 66/99 [67%]; rhabdomyosarcoma, 21/35 [60%]; Ewing sarcoma, 7/8 [88%]) and 51 of 85 (60%) diagnostic biopsies (osteosarcoma, 26/45 [58%]; rhabdomyosarcoma, 21/35 [60%]; Ewing sarcoma, 4/5 [80%]). COX-2 expression did not vary with clinicopathologic features and was not predictive of prognosis in these cases. CONCLUSIONS: This study does not support the use of COX-2 expression as an upfront prognostic variable in patients with osteosarcoma or rhabdomyosarcoma. Results from the small number of patients studied with Ewing sarcoma suggest a similar lack of predictive value for COX-2 expression. However, COX-2 inhibitors are not entirely dependent upon enzyme expression for their antitumor effects; this study does not necessarily preclude the use of COX-2 inhibitors for the treatment of pediatric sarcomas.
Authors: Nidra I Rodriguez; William Keith Hoots; Nadezhda V Koshkina; Jaime A Morales-Arias; Carola A Arndt; Carrie Y Inwards; Douglas S Hawkins; Mark F Munsell; Eugenie S Kleinerman Journal: J Pediatr Hematol Oncol Date: 2008-07 Impact factor: 1.289
Authors: Suvi Savola; Arto Klami; Samuel Myllykangas; Cristina Manara; Katia Scotlandi; Piero Picci; Sakari Knuutila; Jukka Vakkila Journal: ISRN Oncol Date: 2011-10-02