Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in association with clinicopathological prognostic factors and molecular markers in epithelial ovarian cancer

Objectives. This study examines whether expression of COX-2 is associated with clinicopathological features and other molecular markers of ovarian cancer. Methods. Sixty-four paraffin-embedded tissue specimens were obtained from patients with ovarian cancer who received cytoreductive surgery and combination chemotherapy. Tissue specimens were subjected to immunohistochemical analysis using antibodies to COX-2, p53, and VEGF. Results. Increased COX-2 expression significantly correlated with histologic type (mucinous 5.6% vs. non-mucinous 65.2%, P < 0.001). COX-2 expression was also significantly associated with stage, tumor grade, residual disease status, and presence of ascites. COX-2 expression correlated positively with expression of p53 (P = 0.006) and VEGF (P = 0.025). Although survival was lower in patients with high COX-2 expression than in those without high COX-2 expression (P < 0.001), only tumor grade and stage were independent prognostic indicators. In patients with non-mucinous cancer, COX-2 expression correlated with stage (P < 0.001) and presence of ascites (P = 0.033). Conclusions. Our results suggest that expression of COX-2 in ovarian cancers is specific to histologic type of tumor and is associated with poor clinicopathologic prognostic factors. Expression of COX-2 also correlates well with expression of p53 and VEGF. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.