RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate expressions of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in primary prostate cancer and its clinical significance.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Expressions of COX-2 and VEGF were detected by immunohistochemical assay in tissues of 40 prostate cancer and 10 benign prostatic hyperplasia samples.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>COX-2 and VEGF levels in prostate cancer were much higher than those in BPH. The degrees of cancer malignancy and invasion positively correlated with the expressions of COX-2 and VEGF. COX-2 level positively correlated with VEGF level.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The abnormal expression of COX-2 plays an important role in the development of primary prostate cancer. COX-2 and VEGF are good molecular markers of prostate cancer which are hopeful to be used for the assistant diagnosis and the prediction of prognosis of prostate cancer.</p>