Cyclooxygenase-2 expression is associated with vascular endothelial growth factor-c and lymph node metastasis in human oral tongue cancer.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

This study aimed to determine the relationship of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor-c (VEGF-C) expression with lymphangiogenesis, lymph node metastasis (LNM), and other clinicopathologic features in human oral tongue cancers.

STUDY DESIGN:

Forty tongue cancer specimens were immunohistochemically examined for COX-2 and VEGF-C expression and for lymphatic vessel density (LVD). We analyzed the relationships between COX-2 and VEGF-C expression and the relationships of such expression with clinicopathologic findings and survival of patients.

RESULTS:

Eighteen tumors out of 40 (45%) showed COX-2 expression, and 18 tumors (45%) expressed VEGF-C. Twelve tumors (30%) coexpressed COX-2/VEGF-C. A significant correlation was found between COX-2 and VEGF-C expression (P < .01). Of note, COX-2/VEGF-C coexpression significantly correlated with lymphangiogenesis, LNM, TNM stage (P < .01), and LVD (P < .05). In Cox regression for survival, COX-2/VEGF-C coexpression was identified as an independent prognostic factor (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS:

Our results suggest that examination of immunohistochemical expression of COX-2 and VEGF-C predicts LNM and survival in human oral tongue cancers.

• Authors: Yoshihiro Morita, Nobuo Morita, Kenji Hata, Masako Nakanishi, Natsuko Kimoto, Tetsuji Omata, Yasushi Nakamura, Toshiyuki Yoneda
• Journal: Oral surgery, oral medicine, oral pathology and oral radiology (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol) Vol. 117 Issue 4 Pg. 502-10 (Apr 2014) ISSN: 2212-4411 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24560404 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C
• Cyclooxygenase 2

Topics

• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell (metabolism, pathology)
• Cyclooxygenase 2 (metabolism)
• Female
• Humans
• Immunoenzyme Techniques
• Lymphangiogenesis (physiology)
• Lymphatic Metastasis
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasm Grading
• Neoplasm Staging
• Prognosis
• Survival Analysis
• Tongue Neoplasms (metabolism, pathology)
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C (metabolism)