Expression of cyclo-oxygenase-2 is correlated with high intratumoral microvessel density and low apoptotic index in human esophageal squamous cell carcinomas

Cyclo-oxygenase (COX) is a key enzyme in the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostanoids. COX-2 expression has been found in many malignancies. This study analyzed the correlation between COX-2 expression and angiogenesis or apoptosis in human esophageal carcinomas. The study examined the expressi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Virchows Archiv : an international journal of pathology 2003-02, Vol.442 (2), p.129-135
Main Authors: KASE, Satoru, OSAKI, Mitsuhiko, HONJO, Soichiro, ADACHI, Hironobu, TSUJITANI, Shunichi, KAIBARA, Nobuaki, ITO, Hisao
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Apoptosis
Biological and medical sciences
Blotting, Western
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - blood supply
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - enzymology
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - secondary
Cyclooxygenase 2
DNA, Neoplasm - analysis
Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
Esophageal Neoplasms - blood supply
Esophageal Neoplasms - enzymology
Esophageal Neoplasms - pathology
Esophagus
Female
Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen
Humans
Immunoenzyme Techniques
In Situ Nick-End Labeling
Isoenzymes - biosynthesis
Male
Medical sciences
Membrane Proteins
Microcirculation - pathology
Middle Aged
Neovascularization, Pathologic - pathology
Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases - biosynthesis
Tumor Cells, Cultured - enzymology
Tumors
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Summary:Cyclo-oxygenase (COX) is a key enzyme in the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostanoids. COX-2 expression has been found in many malignancies. This study analyzed the correlation between COX-2 expression and angiogenesis or apoptosis in human esophageal carcinomas. The study examined the expression of COX-2 in six esophageal carcinoma cell lines and in 100 esophageal squamous cell carcinomas, comparing intratumoral microvessel density (IMVD) and apoptotic index (AI) by immunohistochemistry and TUNEL methods. COX-2 was variably expressed in all the cell lines examined. COX-2 immunoreactivity was observed mainly in the cytoplasm of carcinoma cells. Significantly higher mean IMVD and lower AI were noted in the 51 strong COX-2 expressing cases than in the 49 weak cases. IMVD and AI were negatively correlated. COX-2 expression was higher in the tumors with lymphatic invasion than in the others. These data indicate that COX-2 expression is associated with increased intratumoral microvessels and suppression of tumor cell apoptosis. Thus COX-2 might play an important role in the angiogenesis and regulation of apoptosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinomas.
ISSN:0945-6317
1432-2307
DOI:10.1007/s00428-002-0706-x