AIM: Recent studies suggested that cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enhances tumor angiogenesis via upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Although COX-2 expression has been demonstrated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the significance of COX-2 in progression of HCC remains unclear. This study evaluated the clinico-pathological correlation of COX-2 level and its relationship with VEGF level in HCC. METHODS: Fresh tumor tissues were obtained from 100 patients who underwent resection of HCC. COX-2 protein expression was examined by immunohistochemistry, and quantitatively by an enzyme immunometric assay (EIA) of tumor cytosolic COX-2 levels. Tumor cytosolic VEGF levels were measured by an ELISA. RESULTS: Immunostaining showed expression of COX-2 in tumor cells. Tumor cytosolic COX-2 levels correlated with VEGF levels (r = 0.469, P<0.001). Correlation with clinicopathological features showed significantly higher tumor cytosolic COX-2 levels in the presence of multiple tumors (P = 0.027), venous invasion (P = 0.030), microsatellite lesions (P = 0.037) and advanced tumor stage (P = 0.008). Higher tumor cytosolic COX-2 levels were associated with worse patient survival. CONCLUSION: This study shows that elevated tumor COX-2 levels correlate with elevated VEGF levels and invasiveness in HCC, suggesting that COX-2 plays a significant role in the progression of HCC.
AIM: Recent studies suggested that cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enhances tumor angiogenesis via upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Although COX-2 expression has been demonstrated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the significance of COX-2 in progression of HCC remains unclear. This study evaluated the clinico-pathological correlation of COX-2 level and its relationship with VEGF level in HCC. METHODS: Fresh tumor tissues were obtained from 100 patients who underwent resection of HCC. COX-2 protein expression was examined by immunohistochemistry, and quantitatively by an enzyme immunometric assay (EIA) of tumor cytosolic COX-2 levels. Tumor cytosolic VEGF levels were measured by an ELISA. RESULTS: Immunostaining showed expression of COX-2 in tumor cells. Tumor cytosolic COX-2 levels correlated with VEGF levels (r = 0.469, P<0.001). Correlation with clinicopathological features showed significantly higher tumor cytosolic COX-2 levels in the presence of multiple tumors (P = 0.027), venous invasion (P = 0.030), microsatellite lesions (P = 0.037) and advanced tumor stage (P = 0.008). Higher tumor cytosolic COX-2 levels were associated with worse patient survival. CONCLUSION: This study shows that elevated tumorCOX-2 levels correlate with elevated VEGF levels and invasiveness in HCC, suggesting that COX-2 plays a significant role in the progression of HCC.
Authors: O N El-Assal; A Yamanoi; Y Soda; M Yamaguchi; M Igarashi; A Yamamoto; T Nabika; N Nagasue Journal: Hepatology Date: 1998-06 Impact factor: 17.425
Authors: Nam Oak Lee; Joong-Won Park; Jung Ahn Lee; Ju Hyun Shim; Sun-Young Kong; Kyung Tae Kim; Yeon-Su Lee Journal: J Cancer Res Clin Oncol Date: 2011-10-19 Impact factor: 4.553