Background and aims: No information is available on the nature of the correlation between cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and the clinicopathological features and prognosis of cholangiocarcinoma (CC). The goal of the present study was to determine the possible roles and clinical significance of COX-2 expression in CC.
Methods: We investigated the immunohistochemical expression of COX-2 in 102 patients with CC with respect to clinicopathological characteristics, namely evidence of Clonorchis sinensis infection, proliferation index (PI, assessed by Ki-67 expression), apoptotic index (AI, assessed by TUNEL stain), and microvessel density (MVD, assessed by CD34 expression). Evidence of C. sinensis infection was assessed by the microscopic examination of stools for C. sinensis ova, serological testing (ELISA), and the detection of peripheral bile duct dilations by imaging studies.
Results: An immunohistochemical investigation demonstrated the immunolabeling of tumor cells, mainly in the cytoplasmic and perinuclear regions, in 53 (52%) of the 102 patients with CC. No significant differences were found in terms of age, sex, tumor differentiation, involvement of the resection margin, presence of lymph nodes or liver metastases, or in pTNM stage between COX-2 positive and COX-2 negative patients. However, evidence of C. sinensis infection was more common in COX-2 positive patients (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found for PI, AI, MVD, or cumulative survival between COX-2 positive and COX-2 negative patients.
Conclusion: Clonorchis sinensis infection is related to aberrant COX-2 expression in patients with CC. However, COX-2 expression is not related to clinical outcome in CC patients.