[Relationship between cyclooxygenase-2 protein expression, prostaglandins levels and biologic behavior in ovarian carcinoma tissue].

OBJECTIVE

To study the relationship between cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein expression, prostaglandins levels assay and ovarian carcinoma biologic behavior in ovarian carcinoma tissue.

METHODS

The levels of COX-2 protein, prostaglandin (PG) E(2), 6-keto-PGF(1 alpha) and thromboxane (TX) B(2) in 54 biopsy specimens from patients with ovarian serous tumor which included three groups: 33 samples of ovarian serous carcinomas; 10 samples of borderline ovarian serous tumors and 11 samples of benign ovarian serous tumors and 10 samples of normal ovarian tissues were detected by western blot analysis and radioimmunoassay to investigate their clinical significance.

RESULTS

(1) The levels of COX-2 protein expression (82%, 27/33) and relative quantity (20.08 +/- 3.53) in ovarian serous tumor tissues were statistically higher than those in benign ovarian serous tumor tissues and in normal ovary tissues [0 and (15.04 +/- 0.12), 0 and (15.33 +/- 0.60), P < 0.05]. The level of COX-2 protein expression in borderline ovarian serous tumor tissues (90%, 9/10) and relative quantity (20.61 +/- 3.03) were statistically higher than those in benign ovarian serous tumor and normal ovary tissues (P < 0.05). The levels of COX-2 protein expression and relative quantity were found no significant differences in different clinical stages (I to II and III to IV), different histological grades, with or without ascites and lymphatic metastasis. (2) The levels of PGE(2), 6-keto-PGF(1 alpha) and TXB(2) in ovarian serous carcinoma tissues were statistically higher than in borderline ovarian serous tumor, benign ovarian serous tumor or normal ovarian tissues (P < 0.05). No significant differences of the levels were found among borderline tissues, benign tissues or normal ovarian tissues (P > 0.05). PGE(2), 6-keto-PGF(1 alpha) and TXB(2) were found no significant differences in different clinical stages (I to II and III to IV), different histological grades, with or without ascites and lymphatic metastasis. (3) COX-2 expression was correlated with PGE(2), 6-keto-PGF(1 alpha) and TXB(2) (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

(1) Our data suggest that COX-2 overexpression leads to increased PGE(2), 6-keto-PGF(1 alpha) and TXB(2) biosynthesis, which may be mechanisms underlying the contribution of COX-2 to the development of ovarian serous carcinoma. (2) PGE(2), 6-keto-PGF(1 alpha) and TXB(2) may be helpful parameters of diagnosis and differentiate diagnosis in ovarian serous carcinoma.