The expression of COX-2 and VEGF-C in the colorectal carcinoma and its clinical significance

Objective To study the expression of cyclooxygenase 2(COX-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor C(VEGF-C) in colorectal carcinoma,and their relationship with clinicopathological characteristics,especially with lymph node metastasis.Methods Sixty specimens of colorectal carcinoma which had been diagnosed by pathology,30 specimens of normal colorectal tissue 5cm away from the distal part of carcinoma tissue in the same body,and 30 specimens of colorectal adenoma were selected as research objects.The expression of COX-2 and VEGF-C in the three groups was detected by S-P immunohistochemical method,and compared,the correlation between them was analysed.The correlations of the positive expression rate in colorectal carcinoma with lymph node metastasis as well as other clinicopathological characteristics were analysed.Results(1) COX-2 was not expressed in normal tissue,the positive rates of expression were higher in colorectal carcinoma and colorectal adenomas than in normal colon tissue(P0.017);the expression rate of COX-2 was increased in moderately and poorly differentiated,with serosal invasion,with lymph node metastasis and stage C+D carcinoma compared with the corresponding well-differentiated,without serosal invasion,without lymph node metastasis and stage A+B carcinoma(P0.05,OR 1,its 95% CI did not include 1).(2) VEGF-C was not expressed in normal tissue and colorectal adenomas.The positive rate of expression in colorectal carcinoma was higher than that in both colorectal adenomas and normal tissue(P0.017).The positive expression rate of VEGF-C was higher in moderately and poorly differentiated,with lymph node metastasis and stage C+D carcinoma than in well-differentiated,without lymph node metastasis and stage A+B carcinoma(P0.01,OR 1,its 95% CI did not include 1).(3) In colorectal carcinoma,association exsisted in the expression of COX-2 and VEGF-C,which means that when the expression of COX-2 was high,VEGF-C was also high(P0.05,OR 1,its 95% CI did not include 1).Conclusion In colorectal carcinoma,COX-2 and VEGF-C present high expression,and have a relevance,the positive rate of expression was correlated with lymph node metastasis,Dukes stage and tissue differentiation.