Expression and significance of COX-2 and VEGF in gastric carcinoma

Objective To investigate the expressions and significance of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and cyclooxygenase–2(COX-2) in gastric carcinoma.Methods The expressions of VEGF and COX-2 were detected by immunohistochemistry in 51 gastric carcinoma specimens(group A) and 24 normal tissues(group B).Microvessel density(MVD) was obtained by counting CD34 positive blood vessels.Results The expressions of VEGF and COX-2 proteins and MVD were significantly higher in group A than those in group B(P0.01).The expressions of VEGF and COX-2 were positively correlated with MVD(P0.01).The expressions of VEGF and COX-2 protein were closely related with invasion depth,lymph node metastasis and TNM stage(P0.05 or P0.01).MVD was higher in group A than that in group B(P0.01).ConclusionOverexpressions of COX-2 and VEGF may play an important role in the angiogenesis and progression of gastric carcinoma.