Expression of Cyclooxygenase-2 in Bladder Transitional Cell Carcinoma and Its Relation to Biological Behavior of Bladder Cancer

Objective To study the expression of cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) in bladder transitional cell carcinoma(BTCC) and the relationship with biological behavior and its clinical significance.Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) was applied to detect the mRNA expression of COX-2 in 10 frozen specimens from BTCC ,and 10 frozen specimens of normal bladder tissues obtained from renal transplantation donors.Immunohistochemistry method (Envision method ) was used to detect the expression of COX-2 in 72 cases of BTCC ,and 10 specimens of normal bladder tissues obtained from renal transplantation donors.Furthermore ,the relationship between COX-2 expression level and cancer pathologic parameters was analyzed.Using RT-PCR,all 10 frozen specimens from BTCC were shown to express COX-2mRNA,while only 1 of 10 frozen specimens of normal bladder tissues expressed COX-2mRNA,with significant difference.Using Immunohistochemistry method ,no marked expression of COX-2 was observed in the 10 specimens of normal bladder tissues obtained from renal transplantation donors, while COX-2 protein expression was postive in 72 cases of BTCC,The intensity of COX-2 expression was associated with tumor grade , stage and recurrence.[Conclusion]The abnormal expression of COX-2 in BTCC was closely correlated with the grade , stage and recurrence of tumors.This result suggests that COX-2 may play a key role in the development and progression of BTCC .