Expression of COX-2 and its relationship to angiogenesis in human brain gliomas

Purpose To detect the expression of cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2),vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and CD34 in surgically removed human gliomas and to study the relationship and significance among COX-2,VEGF,micro vessels density(MVD) and angiogenesis in gliomas.Methods Immunohistochemical SP method was used to investigate the expression of COX-2,VEGF and CD34 among 80 human glioma samples and 10 normal brain tissue samples respectively.Results Positive cells of COX-2 and VEGF were distributed in the area close to necrosis and in the area with intensive blood vessels.The positive rates of COX-2 and VEGF in 80 glioma samples were 68.8% and 72.5% and there was no expression in normal brain tissue.The expression of COX-2 and VEGF was associated with MVD(r=0.927,r=0.939,P0.05);the expression of COX-2 was associated with VEGF(r=0.885,P0.05);the pathologic grade of gliomas was associated with COX-2,VEGF and MVD(r=0.894,r=0.927,r=0.865,P0.05).Conclusion COX-2 and VEGF play an important role in the glioma growing and progressing and are closely associated with malignancy.COX-2 may accelerate the tumor's angiogenesis through up-regulating the expression of VEGF.