Expressions of COX-2 and p53 in non-small cell lung cancer by tissue microarray analysis

OBJECTIVE:To explore the relationship between the expressions of COX-2 and p53 and clinicopathologic parameters and overall survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: Expressions of COX-2 and p53 were accessed by the immunohistochemical staining on tissue microarray sections made of 88 cases of NSCLC and 10 cases of normal lung samples, and the results were compared with relevant clinical and pathologic data. RESULTS: The cytoplasmic expression of COX-2 was detected in 71.6%(63/88), and nuclear expression of p53 was detected in 35.2%(31/88). Neither COX-2 nor p53 expression were observed in normal lung tissues. The expressions of COX-2 (χ2=20.045,P=0.000) and p53 (χ2=5.153, P=0.028) in NSCLC were significant higher than those in the normal lung tissues. There was no correlation between the expressions of COX-2 and p53,P=0.694. The positive expression of COX-2 was significantly higher in the groups with female (χ2=8.213,P=0.005), non-smokers (χ2=5.086,P=0.027), adenocarcinoma (χ2=12.137,P=0.001), lymph node metastasis (χ2=9.475,P=0.003) and stage Ⅲ (χ2=6.761,P=0.017), respectively. The patients with positive expression of COX-2 had worse overall survival,χ2=5.986, P=0.014. The expression of p53 had no relationship with clinicopathologic parameters or survival, P0.05. Multivariate analysis using Cox regression modal showed that neither COX-2 nor p53 was the important independent prognostic factor for survival. CONCLUSION: Aberrant expression of COX-2 is related to shorter overall survival and it may be useful as an indicator for prognosis in NSCLC.