Relationship among COX-2 protein expression,PGs levels and biologic behavior in ovarian carcinoma tissues

Objective: To study the relationship among cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein expression, prostaglandins levels and biologic behavior in ovarian carcinoma tissues. Methods: The expression of COX-2 protein, levels of prostaglandin (PG)E₂, 6-keto-PGF_1α and thromboxane (TX)B₂ in 54 biopsy specimens from patients with ovarian serous tumors which included three groups: 33 samples of ovarian serous carcinoma; 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: The expression of COX-2 protein (82%, 27/33) and its relative content (20.08±3.53) in ovarian serous carcinoma tissues were statistically higher than those in benign ovarian serous tumor tissues and normal ovary tissues i.e., 0 and (15.04±0.12), 0 and (15.33±0.60) (P<0.05). The expression of COX-2 protein in borderline ovarian serous tumor tissues (90%, 9/10) and relative content (20.61±3.03) were statistically greater than those in benign ovarian serous tumor and normal ovary tissues (P<0.05). The expression of COX-2 protein and its relative content showed no significant differences in ovarian carcinoma tissues of different clinical stages (I to II and III to IV), different histological grades, with or without ascites and lymph metastasis. The levels of PGE₂, 6-keto-PGF_1α and TXB₂ 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 and normal ovarian tissues (P>0.05). The levels of PGE₂, 6-keto-PGF_1α and TXB₂ showed no significant differences in ovarian carcinoma tissues with different clinical stages (I to II and III to IV), different histological grades, with or without ascites and lymph metastasis. COX-2 expression was correlated with the levels of PGE₂, 6-KETO-PGF_1α and TXB₂ (P<0.01). Conclusion: Our data suggest that COX-2 overexpression leads to increased PGE₂, 6-KETA-PGFPGF_1α and TXB₂ biosynthesis, which may be mechanisms underlying the contribution of COX-2 to the development of ovarian serous carcinoma. BGF₂, 6-keto-PGF_1α and TXB₂ may be helpful parameters of diagnosis and differentiate diagnosis in ovarian serous carcinoma. Biography: WANG Min(1963–), female, doctor of medicine, associate professor, China Medical University, majors in gynecology.