Relationship between COX-2 expression and clinicopathologic data of gallbladder cancer

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Gallbladder carcinoma has been associated with a dismal overall prognosis. Tumorigenesis of gallbladder carcinoma is complex and not completely understood. An association of gallbladder carcinoma with cholelithiasis or and anomalous arrangerment of pancreaticobiliary duct suggests progression of carcinoma. COX-2 is a rate-limiting enzyme of PG synthesis and related to chronic inflammation. Several reports suggest the close relationship between and COX-2 and gallbladder cancer. METHODS: We reviewed the clinical records of 62 patients with gallbaldder cancer who had undergone operation from January, 1990 to December, 1999 at Hanyang University Hospital. COX-2 expression in gallbladder cancer was evaluated with immunohistochemical staining and expression intensity was graded as 0-2. Results: There were 62 patients, whose mean age was 52.5 years. The ages ranged from 28to 84 years. There were 27 male patients and 35 female patients. generally, COX-2 expression was found in chronic inflammation areas and its level increased in dysplastic areas and mucosal tumor. Stromal tumor showed a relatively weaker COX-2 expression level. Cox-2 expression is related to depth of tumor invasion, lympn node metastasis, stage(TNM,Nevin) in a negative way. CONCLUSION: Early stage of gallbladder cancer shows relatibely increased levels of COX-2. Its increased level means that COX-2 can modulate the early stage of gallbladder cancer carcinogenesis. COX-2 inhibitor, a cancer chemopreventive agent in colon cancer, can be regarded as the same one in gallbladder caccer.