RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in colorectal carcinoma and its correlation with liver metastasis of colorectal carcinoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The expression of COX-2 was detected using immunohistochemical methods in 30 colorectal carcinoma tissues without liver metastasis, 30 with preoperative liver metastasis, 30 with postoperative liver metastasis and 30 surrounding normal colorectal tissues. And its correlation with gender, age, Dukes stages was analyzed too.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expression of COX-2 in colorectal carcinoma was significantly higher than that in surrounding normal colorectal tissue (P < 0.05), and meanwhile, its level in colorectal carcinoma without liver metastasis was significantly lower than those in tissues with preoperative or postoperative liver metastasis (P < 0.05). The COX-2 level had no correlation with gender, age, histological type, histological grade or the preoperative serum CEA and CA 19-9 levels in colorectal carcinoma (P > 0.05), but it was related to Dukes stages and lymph node metastasis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>COX-2 plays a role in the course of generation, development and metastasis of colorectal carcinoma. The high expression of COX-2 in colorectal carcinoma tissues may be considered as an indicator for liver metastasis.</p>