Cyclooxygenase-2 Expression is not a Marker of Poor Survival in Lung Cancer

Abstract

<br/><b>Objective</b>: Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) has been claimed to play role in carcinogenesis and be related to a badprognosis in tumours. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between COX-2 expression andclinical and pathological parameters in early and advanced stage lung cancer patients. Materials and <br/><b>Methods</b>: Atotal of 73 patients with lung cancer (27 adenocarcinomas, 33 squamous cell carcinomas, 4 large cell carcinomasand 9 small cell cancer) were analysed retrospectively. COX-2 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistryin resection materials or lung biopsies. Tumor cells demonstrating more intense staining than smooth muscle andendothelial cells were recorded as COX-2 positive. We investigated the correlation between increased COX-2expression and histological type of the tumor, the stage of the disease and survival. <br/><b>Results</b>: COX-2 expressionwas observed in 55% of the adenocarcinomas, 45% of the squamous cell carcinomas and 22% of the small cellcarcinomas. No correlation was apparent between COX-2 expression and disease stage, histological type and thesurvival. <br/><b>Conclusion</b>: The results of this study do not support COX-2 expression as an independent prognosticfactor in lung cancer. However, since results of the literature are different, further studies made in larger seriesare needed.