Differential expression of cyclooxygenase 2 in human colorectal cancer
J Dimberg, A Samuelsson, A Hugander, P Söderkvist - Gut, 1999 - gut.bmj.com
J Dimberg, A Samuelsson, A Hugander, P Söderkvist
Gut, 1999•gut.bmj.comBACKGROUND Experimental, clinical, and epidemiological studies have implicated
mitogenic metabolites of arachidonic acid such as prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in colorectal
carcinogenesis. Recently, cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) which catalyses the conversion of
arachidonic acid to PGE2, has displayed increased levels in human colorectal cancer. AIMS
To evaluate whether there is differential COX-2 expression from different locations (caecum,
ascending, transverse, descending, or sigmoid colon, and rectum) in human colorectal …
mitogenic metabolites of arachidonic acid such as prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in colorectal
carcinogenesis. Recently, cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) which catalyses the conversion of
arachidonic acid to PGE2, has displayed increased levels in human colorectal cancer. AIMS
To evaluate whether there is differential COX-2 expression from different locations (caecum,
ascending, transverse, descending, or sigmoid colon, and rectum) in human colorectal …
BACKGROUND
Experimental, clinical, and epidemiological studies have implicated mitogenic metabolites of arachidonic acid such as prostaglandin E2(PGE2) in colorectal carcinogenesis. Recently, cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) which catalyses the conversion of arachidonic acid to PGE2, has displayed increased levels in human colorectal cancer.
AIMS
To evaluate whether there is differential COX-2 expression from different locations (caecum, ascending, transverse, descending, or sigmoid colon, and rectum) in human colorectal cancer.
METHODS
Protein levels of COX-2 were determined by western blot analysis in tumours and adjacent normal mucosa of 39 patients with colorectal cancer.
RESULTS
There was a notable overexpression of COX-2 protein in tumours located in the rectum (p<0.001) compared with other locations in the colon. Rectal tumours revealed elevated COX-2 protein levels in 18/20 cases compared with 4/19 colonic cases. No association between enhanced COX-2 protein expression in tumour tissue and Dukes’s stages was found.
CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that the differential COX-2 expression may be due to differences in gene regulatory factors affecting COX-2 expression and/or reflect secondary changes in tumour progression which may have clinical implications.
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