Expression and Correlation of Cyclooxygenase-2, Angiogenin and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Human Transitional Cell Carcinoma / 대한비뇨기과학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The role of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 on the tumorigenesis and progression of human solid organ tumor is unknown, but recent studies have supported an important role for COX-2 in various cancers. Tumor development and progression depend on angiogenesis, which is mediated by several angiogenic factors, including angiogenin and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). This study was performed to evaluate the expressions of COX-2, angiogenin and VEGF in the tumor tissues of patients with urothelial carcinomas. The correlation of these factors was also evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The quantification for the expressions of COX-2, angiogenin and VEGF mRNA was assessed in 171 human bladder tumor tissues and 34 normal bladder mucosa, using quantitative competitive polymerase chain reaction (QC-PCR). The expression levels of COX-2, angiogenin and VEGF mRNA in the bladder tumor and normal bladder mucosa were compared using Student's t-tests. The correlation of these factors was also assessed by a simple linear regression analysis. RESULTS: The COX-2, angiogenin and VEGF mRNA expressions in the bladder tumor tissues were significantly higher than those in the normal bladder mucosae of the controls. COX-2 expression had a significant correlation with that of VEGF, but not with that of angiogenin. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that COX-2, angiogenin and VEGF were expressed in human bladder tumors. These finding support that these factors might play an important role in the tumorigenesis of human bladder tumors. These data suggest that angiogenesis, mediated by VEGF, may be involved in the neoplastic growth of urothelial carcinomas by COX-2.