The effects of cydooxygenase-2 expression on vascular endothelial growth factor and angiogenesis in human bladder transitional cell carcinoma

Objective To investigate the effects of cyclooxygenase 2 COX-2 expression on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiogenesis in human bladder transitional cell carcinoma (BTCC). Method The protein expression of COX-2,VEGF and microvascular density (MVD) was examined by immunohistochemical staining in 61 cases with BTCC and 7 normal bladder mucosa. Results COX-2 protein was mainly localized at cytoplasm of malignant cell,positive rate was 55.74%(34/61),VEGF expression was detected in 59.02% (36/61),but was not expressed in normal bladder mucosa. The intensity of COX-2 and VEGF expression was associated with tumor grade and stage. The expression of COX-2 was significantly correlated with VEGF (r_s＝ 0.563,P＜ 0.01). MVD of bladder carcinoma with positive expression of COX-2 and VEGF was significantly higher than those without expression of COX-2 and VEGF (76.45 ± 20.60 vs 38.29 ± 15.05,P ＜ 0.01). Conclusions The expressions of COX-2 and VEGF were enhanced in human BTCC,and associated with the malignant degree of the tumor,indicating that COX-2 may play a key role in the development and progression of BTCC. COX-2 may stimulate angiogenesis through VEGF upregulation. Key words: Urinary bladder neoplasms;  Cyclooxygenase 2;  Vascular endothelial growth factor A; Immunohistochemistry; Angiogenesis