Journal of Clinical Pathology 2006;59:685-691
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Overexpression of cyclo-oxygenase-2 is an independent predictor of unfavourable outcome in node-negative breast cancer, but is not associated with protein kinase B (Akt) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK1/2, p38) activation or with Her-2/neu signalling pathways
1 Institute of Pathology, University Hospital of Essen, Essen, Germany
2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital of Essen
3 Department of Internal Medicine, Gumma Paz Gakuen College, Gumma, Japan
Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
H A Baba
Institute of Pathology, University Hospital of Essen, D-45147 Essen, Hufelandstr 55, Germany; hideo.baba{at}medizin.uni-essen.de
Background and aim: The production of prostaglandins is regulated by cyclo-oxygenases (COXs), which also have a role in tumour development and progression in various malignancies, including breast cancer. The mechanisms by which COX-2 contributes to unfavourable prognosis are still poorly understood. The association between expression of COX-2 and possible linked signalling pathwaysnamely, Akt, extracellular regulated kinases (ERK1/2), the stress-activated kinase p38 or Her-2/neuis assessed in a series of 113 node-negative breast cancers.
Results: COX-2 was identified as an independent prognostic factor (p = 0.034) in node-negative breast cancer by survival analysis. The lack of a relationship between COX-2 expression and activated Akt, Erk1/2, p38 and Her-2/neu was indicated by statistical analysis.
Conclusions: The prognostic effect of COX-2 expression on lymph node-negative breast cancer is confirmedCOX-2 is probably not regulated by HER-2, Akt, Erk1/2 or p38. Further studies are necessary for the elucidation of the signalling pathways responsible for the modification of COX-2 expression and the increased aggressiveness of breast cancers overexpressing COX-2.
Abbreviations: COX, cyclo-oxygenase; ERK, extracellular regulated kinases; FAP, familial adenomatous polyposis; FISH, fluorescent in situ hybridisation; IHC, immunohistochemistry; MAPK, mitogen-activated protein kinase; NSAID, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug; pAkt, phospho-Akt; pERK, phospho-ERK; PGE2, prostaglandin E2; pp38, phospho-p38; SSC, sodium salt citrate
![]()
CiteULike
Complore
Connotea
Del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
Technorati What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
-
Kuo, S.-H., Yeh, P.-Y., Chen, L.-T., Wu, M.-S., Lin, C.-W., Yeh, K.-H., Tzeng, Y.-S., Chen, J.-Y., Hsu, P.-N., Lin, J.-T., Cheng, A.-L.
(2008). Overexpression of B cell-activating factor of TNF family (BAFF) is associated with Helicobacter pylori-independent growth of gastric diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with histologic evidence of MALT lymphoma. Blood
112: 2927-2934
[Abstract] [Full Text] -
Dillon, M. F, Stafford, A. T, Kelly, G., Redmond, A. M, McIlroy, M., Crotty, T. B, McDermott, E, Hill, A. D, Young, L. S
(2008). Cyclooxygenase-2 predicts adverse effects of tamoxifen: a possible mechanism of role for nuclear HER2 in breast cancer patients. Endocr Relat Cancer
15: 745-753
[Abstract] [Full Text]
Register for free content
The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.
Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.
