The Expression Of Hypoxia-inducible Factor 1 Alpha (HIF-1α) And Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) And Their Relationship In The Angiogenesis In Human Lung Cance

OBJECTIVE: To examine the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1 α ) , cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and their relationship with microvessel density (MVD) in human lung cancer.METHODS: HIF-1- α and COX-2 expression levels were determined by immunohistochemistry in lung cancer tissues of 48 patients. Microvessl density (MVD) was determined by immunostaining with anti-CD34.RESULTS: Positive expression of HIF-1 α and COX-2 was 87.50% (42/48) and 77.08% (37/48) respectively in 48 lung cancer patients. Among them, squamous carcinoma showed 86.67% ( 26/30 ) and 76.67% ( 23/30 ) positive staining for HIF-1 α and COX-2. In adencarcinoma, the positive rate for both of them was 80.00% ( 4/5 ) and in small cell lung cancer group, 92.31% (12/13) and 76.92% (10/13) was positively stained for HIF-1 α and COX-2. No statistical difference was found among different histopathological groups (P>0.05) . The positive expression of HIF-1 α and COX-2 was 78.95% (15/19) and 57.89% (11/19) in early stage of lung cancer, and 93.10% (27/29) and 89.66% (26/29) in advanced stage of lung cancer. Both expression of HIF-1 and COX-2 were positively correlated with the clinical staging (P<0.01) . In addition , the expression of HIF-1 α and COX-2 were...