Expression Of Cyclooxygenase-2 In Human Endometrial Adenocarcinoma: Correlation With Ki-67, Caspase-3, CD34 And E-cadherin

AIMS:To investigate the relationship between the expression of COX-2,Ki-67, Caspase-3,CD34 and E-cadherin in endometrial adenoearcinoma and clinical parameter and expound the function of them in the genesis and development endometrial adenocarcinoma,and the correlation among them in endometrial adenocarcinoma.METHODS:The expression of COX-2,Ki-67,Caspase-3,CD34 and E-cadherin was measured by immunohistochemical Envision method in 20 cases of normal endometrium and 70 cases of endometrial adenocarcinoma.RESULTS:The positive expression rate of COX-2,Ki-67 protein or MVD value in the endometrial adenocarcinoma was significantly higher than that in the normal endometrium(Hc=22.17,27.81,P=0.0000, t=12.67,P＜0.001),while that of Caspase-3 or E-cadherin in the adenocarcinoma was markedly lower than that in the normal endometrium(Uc=-5.097,X~2=18.79,P＜0.001).The expression of COX-2 was not correlated with the patient's age,pathological grade and clinical stage(Hc=1.050,5.566,5.358,P＞0.05),but correlated with the myometrial invasion and lymph node metastasis(Uc=3.015,5.237,P＜0.01).There was no relationship between Ki-67 protein expression and the patient's age and clinical stage (Hc=3.590,5.880,P＞0.05),but it was related to pathological grade,myometrial invasion and lymph node metastasis(Hc=8.504,Uc=2.514,2.963,P＜0.05,0.01).The expression of Caspase-3 did not correlate with patient's age,clinical stage,myometrial invasion,and lymph node metastasis(Uc=1.273,Hc=4.371,Uc=-1.374,1.077,P＞0.05),but it correlated with pathological grade(Hc=7.320,P＜0.05).There was no relationship between the value of MVD and patient's age,pathological grade(t=1.673, F=2.09,P＞0.05),but it was related to clinical stage,myometrial invasion and lymph node metastasis(F=5.77,t=5.650,6.445,P＜0.01,0.001).The expression of E-cadherin did not correlate with patient's age(X~2=11051,P＞0.05),but it correlated with pathological grade,clinical stage,myometrial invasion and lymph node metastasis (X~2=7.572,10.48,4.389,6.098,P＜0.05,0.01,respectively).Expression of COX-2 was correlated positively with Ki-67,MVD(r_s=0.344,P＜0.01;t=2.666,P＜0.05), and negatively with Caspase-3 and E-cadherin(r_s=-0.249,-0.264,P＜0.05);Expression of Ki-67 was correlated positively with MVD(t=2.522,P＜0.05),and negatively with Caspase-3 and E-cadherin(r_s=-0.241,-0.277,P＜0.05).CONCLUSIONS:COX-2,Ki-67,Caspase-3,CD34 and E-cadherin may play important roles in the genesis and development of endometrial adenocarcinoma.COX-2 expression is closely related to the infiltration and metastasis of endometrial adenocarcinoma,Ki-67,Caspase-3,CD34 and E-cadherin were major regulators in the passway of COX-2 expression.Detection of COX-2 may be useful for evaluating the biological behavior and prognosis of endometrial adenocarcinoma,and for establishing suitable therapeutic scheme.COX-2 has potential value in anti neoplastic therapy.