Objective: To investigate the expression of cyclooxyenase-2 (COX-2) in carcinogensis and development of endometrium carcinoma.
Methods: Immunostainings, westernblotting and quantitve reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay were utilized to measure levels of protein and mRNA expression of COX-2 in following five study groups: 25 cases with proliferative phase, 25 cases with secretory phase, 25 cases with endometritis, 23 cases with atypical proliferative phase and 34 cases with endometrium carcinoma.
Results: COX-2 expression of both RNA and protein in patients with endometrial carcinoma was higher significantly than patients with proliferative phase, secretary phase, endometritis, atypical proliferate phase. Immunostaining score was 5.46 +/- 0.12 vs 3.20 +/- 0.18, 4.78 +/- 0.12, 6.10 +/- 0.25, 8.70 +/- 0.93, average absorbent value was 0.75 +/- 0.23 vs 0.41 +/- 0.45, 0.56 +/- 0.31, 1.10 +/- 0.56, 1.46 +/- 0.41; concentration of mRNA [(93 +/- 8) vs (65 +/- 11), (79 +/- 6), (299 +/- 11), (493 +/- 30) fpg/ micro g respectively]. Successively the expression of COX-2 in atypical proliferation group was higher than normal endometrial and endometritis group. The expression in proliferative phase group was higher significantly than secretory phase group (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: COX-2 may play an important role in the development of endometrial carcinoma.