Expression of cyclooxygenase-1 in cervical carcinoma and its significance

Objective To explore the expression of cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) in cervical carcinoma and its significance. Methods The pathological specimens were collected from 62 female patients, who were admitted to 307 Hospital of PLA from Jan. 1999 to Mar. 2005, including 31 cases of cervical carcinomas, 15 cases of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and 16 cases of normal cervix. Surgery or biopsy was performed. Expression of COX-1 was detected by immunohistochemistry, and the relationship between COX-1 and clinicopathological feature was analyzed. Results The major sites of COX-1 expression were localized in cytoplasm, and next in cell membrane. Strongly positive expression of COX-1 was observed in cervical carcinomas, and weakly positive expression of COX-1 in cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia, with positive rates of 81% and 13%, respectively. There was no COX-1 expression in normal cervix. A significant difference was observed among these specimens. No obvious correlation was found between COX-1 expression and patient's age, tumor differentiation degree snd clinical stages. Conclusion Expression of COX-1 may serve as an auxiliary parameter for diagnosis, therapeutic scheme option, and prognosis of patients with cervical carcinoma.