Expression of COX-2 and Bcl-2 in primary fallopian tube carcinoma: correlations with clinicopathologic features

Folia Histochem Cytobiol. 2011;49(3):389-97. doi: 10.5603/fhc.2011.0055.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of COX-2 and Bcl-2 in primary fallopian tube carcinoma (PFTC), as well as their correlations with clinicopathologic features. We studied a cohort of 33 patients with a pathological diagnosis of PFTC. Thirty normal tubal tissues used for controls were obtained from patients diagnosed with uterine myomas. Expression analysis for COX-2 and Bcl-2 was performed using the immunohistochemical technique. The rate of preoperative diagnosis was 18.2%. With a median survival of 61.0 months (95% CI: 43.2 to 78.8 months), the estimated five-year overall survival rate in the 33 patients was 39.0%. Increased expression of COX-2 and Bcl-2 was observed in tumor specimens compared to normal controls (p = 0.026; p = 0.003). The expression rate of COX-2 in node-positive tumors was significantly higher than that of node-negative tumors (p = 0.024). Moreover, the expression rate of COX-2 was statistically significantly higher in patients with infiltration through the serosa (p = 0.019). Positive significant associations were observed between Bcl-2 staining index and FIGO stage (p = 0.015), and between Bcl-2 staining and lymph node metastasis (p = 0.010). There was a significant correlation between COX-2 expression and Bcl-2 staining index (r = 0.517, p = 0.002). We conclude that COX-2 and Bcl-2 may potentially be useful prognostic markers for PFTC. The exact molecular mechanism for correlations between COX-2 and Bcl-2 remains to be elucidated.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / metabolism*
  • Fallopian Tube Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Fallopian Tube Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Fallopian Tube Neoplasms / pathology
  • Fallopian Tubes / cytology
  • Fallopian Tubes / metabolism*
  • Fallopian Tubes / pathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / metabolism*
  • Survival Rate

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • PTGS2 protein, human