Search

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is associated with carcinogenesis and tumor progression. The current study analyzed the effect of COX-2 expression in patients with invasive squamous cervical cancer. Tissue samples from 123 cervical cancer patients were collected for a retrospective analysis using immunohistochemistry (IHC) with an antibody against COX-2. The clinical and survival data of the patients were analyzed. Positive staining for COX-2 (defined as an immunoreactivity score of =4) was detected in 28 patients (23%), with significantly higher percentages of staining in tumor cells compared with peritumoral stroma cells (P<0.001). COX-2 expression was significantly associated with lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI; P=0.017). The association of COX-2 expression with LVSI suggests a possible effect of COX-2 on tumor progression in cervical cancer. Further studies including larger patient collectives are required in order to perform analyses of clinical subgroups and patient survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Claudin-1 is a tight junction protein that has been demonstrated to be involved in tumorigenesis and tumor progression in various types of solid tumors. In the present study, the protein expression of claudin-1 in squamous cervical cancer tissues obtained from 106 patients was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. In addition, the grade of claudin-1 expression was analyzed for associations with certain clinicopathological parameters. A significant overexpression of claudin-1 was detected in the tumor cells, when compared with that in the peritumoral stroma. There was no significant association between claudin-1 expression and FIGO stage, tumor size, grading or the appearance of distant metastases. Cervical cancer patients scoring positive for claudin-1 protein expression tended to exhibit more lymph node metastasis (28.3%), compared with claudin-1-negative patients (7.1%). Regarding overall survival, the results of the present study suggest a better prognosis for claudin-1-negative patients. In order to elucidate whether claudin-1 overexpression has a significant prognostic impact on squamous cervical cancer, further studies are required.