Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and 12-lipoxygenase in human breast cancer and their relationship with HER-2/neu and hormonal receptors: impact on prognosis and therapy.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

A number of studies have shown over-expression of cox-2 in breast cancer. Also it has been recorded that human breast cancer expresses high level of cox-2 and 12-lipoxygenase which may be beneficial in future therapy plan for those patients.

AIMS:

The present study aims to examine the level of transcripts of cox-2 and 12-lipoxygenase in Egyptian breast cancer patients and to compare between the expressions of both enzymes and TNM staging, hormone receptors status (including estrogen and progesterone) and HER2/neu expression.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Total cellular RNA was extracted from 64 frozen tissue samples of breast carcinoma and their corresponding normal adjacent tissues. Cox-2 and 12-lipooxygenase expressions were detected using RT-PCR. Hormonal receptors as well as HER2/neu were detected immuno-histochemically for each patient.

RESULTS:

About 47 and 62.5% of carcinoma samples showed over-expression of cox-2 and 12-lipooxygenase respectively as compared to their corresponding normal tissues. The results revealed that cox-2 significantly associated with TNM staging (P = 0.0047) and hormonal receptors status (P = 0.0201). The relationship between cox-2 and HER2/neu expression was close to a significant value (P = 0.0747). 12-lipooxygenase showed only significant association with TNM staging (P = 0.0076). Neither hormonal receptors nor HER2/neu showed significant association with this enzyme.

CONCLUSION:

Elevated levels of cox-2 and 12-lipoxygenase expression were detected in human breast cancer. Also, the results revealed that cox-2 and 12-lipooxygenase mRNA expressions are associated with TNM staging in human breast cancer. Furthermore, there is an inverse association between cox-2 expression and hormonal receptor status. This observation may drive us to the possible role of those two enzymes in determining the plan of therapy of breast cancer patients.

• Authors: A M Mohammad, H A Abdel, W Abdel, A M Ahmed, T Wael, G Eiman
• Journal: Indian journal of cancer (Indian J Cancer) 2006 Oct-Dec Vol. 43 Issue 4 Pg. 163-8 ISSN: 0019-509X [Print] India
• PMID: 17192687 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers, Tumor
• Membrane Proteins
• RNA, Messenger
• Receptors, Estrogen
• Receptors, Progesterone
• Arachidonate 12-Lipoxygenase
• Cyclooxygenase 2
• PTGS2 protein, human
• Receptor, ErbB-2

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Arachidonate 12-Lipoxygenase (genetics, metabolism)
• Biomarkers, Tumor (analysis)
• Breast (metabolism)
• Breast Neoplasms (genetics, metabolism, pathology)
• Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast (genetics, metabolism, pathology)
• Carcinoma, Lobular (genetics, metabolism, pathology)
• Cyclooxygenase 2 (genetics, metabolism)
• Female
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
• Humans
• Membrane Proteins (genetics, metabolism)
• Middle Aged
• Prognosis
• RNA, Messenger (analysis)
• Receptor, ErbB-2 (genetics, metabolism)
• Receptors, Estrogen (genetics, metabolism)
• Receptors, Progesterone (genetics, metabolism)
• Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction