Significance of Cox-2 and FasL protein expressions in colorectal carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: To study the significance of Cox-2 and FasL protein expressions and their relationships in human colorectal carcinoma. METHODS:The expression of Cox-2 and FasL protein were detected by the immunohistochemical SP staining method in 60 cases of human colorectal carcinoma, 20 cases of colorectal adenoma and 20 cases of normal mucous.RESULTS:1) The positive expression rate of Cox-2 in colorectal carcinoma was 78.3%(47/60);in colorectal adenoma 55.0%(11/20);in normal mucous 25.0% (5/20).The positive expression rate of Cox-2 in colorectal carcinoma was the highest than that in colorectal adenoma and normal mucous, P=0.000?The positive expression rate of FasL in colorectal carcinoma was 86.7%(52/60);in colorectal adenoma 50.0%(10/20);in normal mucous 20.0%(4/20).Expression of Cox-2 and FasL in colorectal cancer were significantly higher than those in adenomas and in normal tissues.2) Expression of Cox-2 and FasL were not correlated with the differentiation and site of tumor,but were correlated with the Duke's stages and lymph node metastasis,P=0.025,P=0.006; expression of Cox-2 was correlated with size of tumor,P=0.005. 3) Expressions of FasL and Cox-2 were positive correlation in colorectal carcinoma, r=0.627, P=0.000. CONCLUSION:The overexpressions of Cox-2 and FasL proteins are found in colorectal carcinoma,and stimulating FasL overexpression may be one of the pathways of Cox-2 protein to contribute to the invasion and metastasis in human colorectal carcinoma.