Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in CIN and cervical carcinoma.

Objective:To examine the expression of cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) in cervical cancer and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia(CIN) and cervical carcinoma,and their possible correlation with carcinogenesis.Methods:The tissue blocks from 35 CIN patients and 40 patients with cervical carcinoma were included in this study,and 5 normal cervical tissues were served as control group.COX-2 proteins were measured by immunohistochemistry and Western-blot.COX-2 mRNA was examined by the reverse transcripton-polymeras chain reaction(RT-PCR).Results:① By immunohistochemistry,normal cervical tissues did not express COX-2.The expression of COX-2 in CIN and cervical carcinoma were 31.4% and 85.0%,respectively.There was significant difference between the three tissues(P0.05).② By RT-PCR,there was no expression of COX-2 mRNA in normal cervical tissues.The expression of COX-2 mRNA CIN and cervical carcinoma were 0.291±0.214 and 0.357±0.173,respectively.There was significant difference between the three tissues(P0.05).③ By Western-blot,the expression of COX-2 in cancer stage I,II and III were 40.27±13.67,56.98±21.13 and 84.21±22.74,respectively.There was significant difference between the three tissues(P0.05).Conclusion:There is no expression of COX-2 in normal cervical tissues.COX-2 is probably involved in early carcinogenesis of cervical carcinoma.The detection ofCOX-2 expression may play an important role in early diagnosis and evaluation of prognosis in patients with cervical carcinoma.