Buccoliero Anna Maria, Castiglione Francesca, Rossi Degl'Innocenti Duccio, Arganini Luisa, Taddei Antonio, Ammannati Franco, Mennonna Pasquale, Taddei Gian Luigi
Department of Human Pathology and Oncology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
Appl Immunohistochem Mol Morphol. 2007 Jun;15(2):187-92. doi: 10.1097/01.pai.0000201807.58801.fc.
Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is the inducible form of the enzyme involved in the first steps of the prostaglandins and thromboxane synthesis. COX-2 up-regulation is demonstrated in tumors where it can modulate tumoral progression, metastasis, multidrug resistance, and angiogenesis. Experimental data suggest a possible therapeutic use of the COX-inhibitors nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). NSAIDs can block tumor growth through many mechanisms, especially through antiangiogenic and proapoptotic effects. Moreover, NSAIDs can also improve the efficacy of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and hormonal therapy. This study reviews the COX-2 expression as evaluated through immunohistochemistry and real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in 23 meningiomas [14 World Health Organization (WHO) grade I; 5 WHO grade II; 3 WHO grade III; 1 oncocytic meningioma]. At immunohistochemistry all the lesions but 4 (83%) were COX-2 positive. At RT-PCR 9 meningiomas, 8 WHO grade I and 1 WHO grade II, showed a COX-2 expression greater than the reference value (average expression of all meningiomas that we studied). The association between tumor grade and immunohistochemical or RT-PCR COX-2 expression was not significant (P=0.427 and P=0.251, respectively). In conclusion, even if further studies on larger series are necessary, the common COX-2 overexpression in meningiomas may suggest considering the COX-2 inhibitors, alone or in combination with radiotherapy, a potential area of therapeutic intervention in some selected meningiomas.
环氧化酶-2（COX-2）是参与前列腺素和血栓素合成第一步的可诱导型酶。在肿瘤中可观察到COX-2上调，它能调节肿瘤进展、转移、多药耐药和血管生成。实验数据表明COX抑制剂非甾体抗炎药（NSAIDs）可能具有治疗作用。NSAIDs可通过多种机制阻断肿瘤生长，尤其是通过抗血管生成和促凋亡作用。此外，NSAIDs还可提高放疗、化疗和激素治疗的疗效。本研究回顾了通过免疫组织化学和实时聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）评估的23例脑膜瘤[14例世界卫生组织（WHO）I级；5例WHO II级；3例WHO III级；1例嗜酸细胞性脑膜瘤]中的COX-2表达情况。免疫组织化学检测显示，除4例（83%）外，所有病变COX-2均呈阳性。RT-PCR检测发现9例脑膜瘤（8例WHO I级和1例WHO II级）的COX-2表达高于参考值（我们研究的所有脑膜瘤的平均表达）。肿瘤分级与免疫组织化学或RT-PCR检测的COX-2表达之间无显著相关性（P分别为0.427和0.251）。总之，尽管有必要对更大样本量进行进一步研究，但脑膜瘤中常见的COX-2过表达可能提示在某些特定脑膜瘤中，可考虑单独或联合放疗使用COX-2抑制剂作为潜在的治疗干预领域。
