Elevated expression of cyclooxygenase-2 is a negative prognostic factor for disease-free survival and overall survival in patients with gastric carcinoma
Tamburini A., Orsenigo E., Albarello L., Mazza E., Staudacher C.
Introduction: Cyclooxygenases regulate the production of
prostaglandins and play a role in tumor development and progression.
The authors investigated the prognostic impact of expression COX-2 in
gastric cancer resected patients.
Methods: A cohort of 194 patients with gastric cancer without distant
metastasis who underwent R0 gastric resection were enrolled in
this study. Association between factors including clinico-pathological
variables and COX-2 scores, were assessed.
Results: A correlation between COX-2 expression, grading and advanced
penetration dept (mean COX-2 expression 74% in early gastric
cancer (EGC) versus 52% in non-EGC, p=0.0017). There was an association
between COX-2 expression and the presence of lymph-nodes
metastasis (p<0,0001, 2) We also observed a significant association between
COX-2 expression and relapse of disease (p=0.05 KM) but not
with poor survival.
Conclusions: High COX-2 protein expression, serosal invasion
(pT3-pT4), and presence of lymph-node metastasis are poor prognostic
factors in patients with gastric carcinoma without distant metastasis.
