Expression Of COX-2, VEGF, MMP-9 In Squamous Cell Carcinoma Of The Esophagus And Carcinoma Of The Gastric Cardia And Its Correlation With Angiogensis And Biologic Behaviors Of Tumor

Objective: To investigate the expression of COX-2, VEGF and MMP-9 in squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus and carcinoma of the gastric cardia and their correlation with angiogenesis and biologic behaviors of tumor.Methods: Ninty and forty-six resected specimens of patients undergoing surgery for primary squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus and carcinoma of the gastric cardia respectively were collected and paracancerous tissues were also collected as the control. Immunohistochemical stain was used for detecting the expression of COX-2, VEGF and MMP-9. Monoclonal antibody against CD34 was used for displaying vascular endothelial cells, and microvascular density (MVD) was examinated by counting of CD34-positive vascular endothelial cells.Results:1. The positive expression rates of COX-2,VEGF and MMP-9 in squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus were 84.4%,71.1%, and 82.2%respectively, and MVD averaged 29.68±3.81, which were significantly higher than those in the control ( 20.6%,11.76%,14.7%,15.12±2.80;P<0.01 ) . The positive expression rates of COX-2,VEGF and MMP-9 and MVD averaged were associated with lymph node metastasis, clinical TNM classification (P<0.05 or P<0.01), Furthermore, COX-2 expression was closely related to cellular differentiation (P < 0.01). COX-2, VEGF, MMP-9 expression were positively correlated to MVD respectively (γ=0.607, P<0.01;γ=0.790, P<0.01;γ=0.718, P<0.01).Postive expression of COX-2 was rightly correlated to VEGF expression (γ=0.610, P<0.01). MVD in the specimens with COX-2 and VEGF co-expression was significantly higher than those without co-expression (31.35±3.39vs 26.64±2.41,P<0.05). In addition, co-expression of COX-2 and VEGF was significantly related with clinical TNM classification and lymph node metastasis in squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus (P<0.01);Postive expression of COX-2 was rightly correlated to MMP-9 expression (γ=0.740, P<0.01). MVD in the specimens with COX-2 and MMP-9 co-expression was significantly higher than those without co-expression (30.95±3.32vs 25.75±2.21, P<0.01). In addition, co-expression of COX-2 and MMP-9 was significantly related with clinical TNM...