Expressions of cyclooxygenase-2 and P-glycoprotein in epithelial ovarian carcinomas / 대한산부인과학회지

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in ovarian epithelial carcinomas, to find out the correlations between their expression and clinicopathological parameters, and to evaluate the response to treatment and clinical outcome according to their expression. METHODS: Immunohistochemical studies of COX-2 and P-gp were carried out in 64 cases that were treated with ovarian epithelial carcinomas at Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Korea University Hospital, Korea University from 1996 to 2005. RESULTS: COX-2 over-expression was detected in 20 (31.2%) cases and was significantly higher in non-responder than responder to chemotherapy (56.2% versus 22.9%, respectively; P=0.012). The patients of COX-2 overexpression showed shorter overall survival (P<0.001). Over-expression of P-gp was detected in 15 (23.4%) cases was significantly higher in non-responder than responder to chemotherapy (56.2% versus 12.5%, respectively; P<0.001). The patients of P-gp overexpression showed shorter overall survival (P= 0.042). CONCLUSION: COX-2 and P-gp overexpression could provide additional information to identify ovarian carcinoma patients with poor chance of response to chemotherapy.