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Analysis of cyclooxygenase-2 expression in human breast cancer: high throughput tissue microarray analysis

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Abstract

Purpose

The objective of this study was to evaluate breast carcinomas for the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) using a tissue microarray (TMA) and to determine its clinical and prognostic relevance.

Methods

We analyzed Cox-2 expression in 600 samples from 200 breast carcinomas immunohistochemically performing TMA technology and semiquantitative analysis. Results were correlated with various clinicopathological variables and follow-up data. Expression of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, Ki-67, and Her-2/neu-oncogene was analyzed and correlated with Cox-2 status.

Results

We observed a moderate or strong cytoplasmic staining for Cox-2 in 78 (40.6%) of breast carcinomas. Increased Cox-2 expression corresponded to higher pT stage (P=0.038), amplification of Her-2/neu (P=0.032), lymphovascular invasion (P=0.006), a high MIB-1 labeling index (LI) (P<0.001), and histological grading (P=0.013). We also observed an inverse relationship between strong Cox-2 expression and estrogen and progesterone receptor content of tumors (P=0.037 and P=0.010). However, we could not demonstrate a significant association between Cox-2 staining and overall survival or disease free survival time.

Conclusions

These results suggest that Cox-2 expression is significantly associated with less differentiated and more aggressive breast carcinomas and might therefore be a useful prognostic indicator as well as a target for therapy.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Inka Buchroth and Judith Obernüfemann for excellent technical assistance.

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Author notes

  1. Raihanatou Diallo

    Present address: Institute of Pathology, Heinrich Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Strasse 33, 48129, Münster, Germany

    Pia Wülfing, Christine Müller, Achim Rody, Robert R. Greb & Ludwig Kiesel

  2. Gerhard-Domagk-Institute of Pathology, University of Münster, Germany

    Raihanatou Diallo, Christopher Poremba & Werner Böcker

  3. Department of Urology, University of Münster, Germany

    Christian Wülfing

  4. Institute of Biomathematics and Medical Informatics, University of Münster, Germany

    Achim Heinecke

  5. Institute of Pathology, Heinrich Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany

    Christopher Poremba

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  1. Pia Wülfing
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Correspondence to Pia Wülfing.

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Wülfing, P., Diallo, R., Müller, C. et al. Analysis of cyclooxygenase-2 expression in human breast cancer: high throughput tissue microarray analysis. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 129, 375–382 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-003-0459-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-003-0459-1

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