J Korean Surg Soc.  2010 Mar;78(3):177-183. 10.4174/jkss.2010.78.3.177.

Cyclooxygenase (COX)-1, Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and E-cadherin Expression in Colorectal Cancer Patients with Hepatic Metastasis

• Joo SH
• Kim BS
• Choi SI
• Song JY
• Lee KY
• Kim YW
• Kim GY
• Lee SH
• Lee SM
• Hong SW

• KMID: 2211946
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4174/jkss.2010.78.3.177

Abstract

PURPOSE
Recent studies have shown that cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 may be involved in colorectal carcinogenesis. In this study, we evaluate the differences of COX-2 expression in patients with synchronous and metachronous hepatic metastasis of colorectal cancer. In addition, the expression of COX-1 and E-cadherin were also evaluated.
METHODS
Paraffin embedded blocks were obtained from 41 patients who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer with hepatic metastasis. Samples from primary colorectal cancer, synchronous and metachronous hepatic lesions were stained by immunohistochemistry for monoclonal antibody against COX-1, COX-2, and E-cadherin.
RESULTS
In colonic COX-1 expression, there was no significant difference in the degree of COX-1 expression between primary colorectal cancer with synchronous hepatic metastasis and that of metachronous hepatic metastasis (P=0.507). In colonic COX-2 and E-cadherin expression, the degree of COX-2 expression was not different between the two groups. But, the patient survival rate in the positive group of COX-1 and COX-2 expression was lower than in the negative group, respectively (P=0.023, P=0.006).
CONCLUSION
The degree of colonic COX-1 and COX-2 expression has an impact on prognosis in synchronous and metachronous hepatic metastasis. Further large-scale study is necessary to determine the meaning of COX-2 expression in colorectal cancer.

Keyword

Colorectal cancer; COX-1; COX-2; E-cadherin

MeSH Terms

Cadherins
Colon
Colorectal Neoplasms
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Neoplasm Metastasis
Paraffin
Prognosis
Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases
Survival Rate
Cadherins
Paraffin
Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Immunochemical staining of COX-1, COX-2 and E-cadherin. (A) Moderate cytoplasmic expression of COX-1 in primary colon cancer (×100). (B) Moderate cytoplasmic expression of COX-1 in hepatic metastasis (×100). (C) Strong cytoplasmic expression of COX-2 in primary colon cancer (×100). (D) Strong cytoplasmic expression of COX-2 in hepatic metastasis (×100). (E) Strong membranous expression of E-cadherin in primary colon cancer (×400). (F) Strong membranous expression of E-cadherin in hepatic metastasis (×400).

• 

  Fig. 2 Overall survival according to the degree of COX-1expression in primary tumor.

• 

  Fig. 3 Overall survival according to the degree of COX-2expression in primary tumor.

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