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ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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:
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
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