Mechanism and clinical significance of cyclooxygenase-2 expression in gastric cancer.

ABSTRACT: AIM:To determine the correlation between methylation status of 5' CpG island of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) gene and protein expression in gastric cancer tissues for distinguishing the molecular characters of gastric cancers. METHODS:Methylation status of 5' CpG island of COX-2 gene was studied by PCR amplification after HpaII and Hha I restrictive enzyme digestion; COX-2 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemical method. RESULTS:Hpa II and HhaI site were all methylated in 12 normal gastric mucosa tissues, whereas they were demethylated in 77.27% (34/44) and 84.09% (37/44) gastric cancer tissues, respectively. Expression of COX-2 was detected in 68.18% (30/44) gastric cancer tissues, but no expression was found in normal gastric mucosa tissues. In gastric cancer tissues, COX-2 expression was correlated significantly with HpaII site demethylation (29/30 vs 5/14, P<0.001 and HhaI site demethylation (28/30 vs 9/14, P<0.05). CONCLUSION:The demethylation of 5' CpG island of gene is necessary for COX-2 expression in human gastric cancer. The expression status of COX-2 may provide theoretical basis for COX-2 targeting gastric cancer treatments.

SUBMITTER: Wang BC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4316055 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature