Cyclooxygenase-2 expression in breast cancer and its relation to VEGF,MVD,MMP-9 and TIMP-1

Purpose To study the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in breast cancer, and to explore the relationship of COX-2 expression with matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and microvessel density (MVD). Methods The expression of COX-2, VEGF, CD34, MMP-9, TIMP-1 in 65 cases of invasive breast carcinoma, and COX-2 expression in 7 cases of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and 45 cases of paired breast tissues were detected by the method of S-P immunohistochemical staining. Results COX-2 was expressed in all 65 cases of invasive breast carcinoma and 7 cases of DCIS, in invasive carcinomas the strong positive rate was 66.2% (43/65),whereas COX-2 staining was weakly positive in 21 cases of 45 cases of paired breast tissues,which was significantly different from that in breast cancer (P0.01). COX-2 expression was not associated with patients age,tumor size,histological grading,TNM stage and lymph node metastasis, but it was correlated with the expression of VEGF, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and with MVD in invasive carcinomas. Conclusions The expression of COX-2 might promote the invasive potential of breast cancer through angiogenesis and metabolism of extracellular matrix.