Investigation of the Roles of Cyclooxygenase-2 and Galectin-3 Expression in the Pathogenesis of Premenopausal Endometrial Polyps

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis and etiology of endometrial polyps has not been elucidated. In this study, we aimed to examine the pathogenic mechanisms of endometrial polyp development using immunohistochemistry. We evaluated the expression of galectin-3 and cyclooxgenase-2 (COX-2) during the menstrual cycle in premenopausal women with endometrial polyps or normal endometrium. METHODS: Thirty-one patients with endometrial polyps and 50 healthy control patients were included in this study. The levels of expression of COX-2 and galectin-3 were studied by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The percentage of COX-2-positive cells and the intensity of COX-2 staining in the endometrium did not vary during the menstrual cycle either in the control group or in patients with endometrial polyps. However, expression of galectin-3 was significantly lower in endometrial polyps and during the proliferative phase of the endometrium compared with the secretory phase. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggests that the pathogenesis of endometrial polyps does not involve expression of COX-2 or galectin-3.

The correlation between up-regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 expression and hepatocellular carcinoma angiogenesis / 中国普通外科杂志

Objective To explore the correlation between up-regulation of cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) (expression) and hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) angiogenesis.Methods The expression of COX-2,vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)、basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF) and angiopoientin-2(Ang-2) were examined in eighty matched sets of HCC specimens using immunohistochemistry and reverse (transcription-polymerase) chain reaction(RT-PCR).Results In HCC,the expression rate of COX-2,VEGF,bFGF and Ang-2 was 75.0%,62.5%,60.0% and 61.25%,respectively.(Immunohistochemical) staining scores of VEGF、bFGF and Ang-2 were 5.98?1.16,4.57?0.26 and(5.87)?0.12,respectively in strongly postive group of COX-2;and were 3.30?0.22,2.61?0.16 and 2.63?0.13,respectively in moderately weak postive group of COX-2.The expression rates of VEGF,(bFGF) and Ang-2 were 100.0%(95/95),94.29%(33/35) and 97.14%(34/35),respectively in strongly postive group of COX-2;and were 60.0%(15/25),60.0%(15/25) and 60.0%(15/25),respectively in moderately weak postive group of COX-2.There was significant difference in HCC(angiogenesis) between the two groups(P