BACKGROUND: Many previous studies have evaluated the histopathological features of tumours as risk factors for postoperative recurrence in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, there have been few large studies investigating the relationship between cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in noncancerous regions of the liver and postoperative recurrence in the remnant liver, especially in HBV-related HCC. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the significance of COX-2 expression levels in noncancerous liver regions as a prognostic indicator of HCC in patients with HBV-related cirrhosis. METHODS: A total of 124 patients who underwent curative resection for HCC were reviewed retrospectively. Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate the expression of COX-2 in noncancerous liver tissue. Clinicopathological variables were compared between patients with high COX-2 expression (n=58 [COX-2-positive group]) and patients with low COX-2 expression (n=66; [COX-2-negative group]). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify factors that affected disease recurrence. RESULTS: There was a significant correlation between COX-2 expression and alanine aminotransferase levels and vascular invasion. The recurrence-free survival rates in the COX-2-positive group were significantly lower than the rates in the COX-2-negative group. On multivariate analysis, the overexpression of COX-2 in noncancerous liver regions was found to be an unfavourable prognostic indicator for the recurrence of HCC. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the current study suggest that overexpression of COX-2 in noncancerous liver regions is an independent and significant indicator predictive of early recurrence of HCC in patients with HBV-related cirrhosis.
BACKGROUND: Many previous studies have evaluated the histopathological features of tumours as risk factors for postoperative recurrence in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, there have been few large studies investigating the relationship between cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in noncancerous regions of the liver and postoperative recurrence in the remnant liver, especially in HBV-related HCC. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the significance of COX-2 expression levels in noncancerous liver regions as a prognostic indicator of HCC in patients with HBV-related cirrhosis. METHODS: A total of 124 patients who underwent curative resection for HCC were reviewed retrospectively. Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate the expression of COX-2 in noncancerous liver tissue. Clinicopathological variables were compared between patients with high COX-2 expression (n=58 [COX-2-positive group]) and patients with low COX-2 expression (n=66; [COX-2-negative group]). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify factors that affected disease recurrence. RESULTS: There was a significant correlation between COX-2 expression and alanine aminotransferase levels and vascular invasion. The recurrence-free survival rates in the COX-2-positive group were significantly lower than the rates in the COX-2-negative group. On multivariate analysis, the overexpression of COX-2 in noncancerous liver regions was found to be an unfavourable prognostic indicator for the recurrence of HCC. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the current study suggest that overexpression of COX-2 in noncancerous liver regions is an independent and significant indicator predictive of early recurrence of HCC in patients with HBV-related cirrhosis.
Authors: S Al-Haddad; Z Zhang; E Leygue; L Snell; A Huang; Y Niu; T Hiller-Hitchcock; K Hole; L C Murphy; P H Watson Journal: Am J Pathol Date: 1999-12 Impact factor: 4.307
Authors: K Ishak; A Baptista; L Bianchi; F Callea; J De Groote; F Gudat; H Denk; V Desmet; G Korb; R N MacSween Journal: J Hepatol Date: 1995-06 Impact factor: 25.083
Authors: Ken A Olaussen; Ariane Dunant; Pierre Fouret; Elisabeth Brambilla; Fabrice André; Vincent Haddad; Estelle Taranchon; Martin Filipits; Robert Pirker; Helmut H Popper; Rolf Stahel; Laure Sabatier; Jean-Pierre Pignon; Thomas Tursz; Thierry Le Chevalier; Jean-Charles Soria Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2006-09-07 Impact factor: 91.245
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Authors: Beom Kyung Kim; Jun Yong Park; Do Young Kim; Ja Kyung Kim; Kyung Sik Kim; Jin Sub Choi; Byung Soo Moon; Kwang Hyub Han; Chae Yoon Chon; Young Myoung Moon; Sang Hoon Ahn Journal: Liver Int Date: 2007-11-19 Impact factor: 5.828