Comparison of the Cox-2 expression in esophageal, gastric and cardia carcinomas / 西安交通大学学报(医学版)

ABSTRACT

Objective To determine whether Cox-2 inhibitor can reduce the risk of cardia carcinoma. Methods Paraffin-embedded specimens from 48 patients with esophageal, gastric or cardia carcinomas were analyzed by immunohistochemistry for expression of Cox-2 protein. Expression of Cox-2mRNA was assessed by RT-PCR and ISPCR in 29 cases of them. None of these patients were currently taking NSAIDs or glucocorticoid. Results The staining scores were 4.15?1.9 in the group with esophageal cancer, 3.66?1.16 in the group with gastric cancer, and 2.93?1.03 in the group with cardia cancer, respectively. There was no significant difference between groups of gastric cancer and cardia cancer. The ratio of cases with positive expression of Cox-2 mRNA was 87.5% in the group with cardia carcinoma, 100% in the group with esophageal cancer and the group with gastric cancer. And no significant difference was found between them. Cox-2mRNA was mainly located in cytoplasm but was found in nuclear too. No difference was found in the location of Cox-2 expression in the three kinds of cancers. Conclusion Cox-2 expression in cardia carcinoma was higher than in the normal group. Its pathological characteristics were almost the same as those in gastric and esophageal cancers. Cox-2 inhibitor possibly have a chemopreventive effect on cardia carcinoma.