Expression of Cyclooxygenase 1 and 2 in Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A large body of evidence from a variety of experimental systems suggests that cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is important in carcinogenesis. This study was to determine whether cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and COX-2 were overexpressed in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma, and discuss the possible causal role of COX-2 in the laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma formation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tissue samples from 21 pateints with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma were analyzed by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: There was an elevation of COX-2 expression in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Normal buccal mucosa biopsies and normal laryngeal epitheliums adjacent to laryngeal cancer showed nondetectable or weak staining for COX-2 protein. There is no difference in the expression of COX -1 in the normal buccal mucosa, normal laryngeal mucosa and laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. CONCLUSION: There is an overexpression of COX-2, but not COX-1 in laryngeal squamous cell cancer. This may represent a causal role of COX-2 in the formation and proliferation of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. There may also be another role of selective COX-2 inhibition for treatment of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.