TY - JOUR
T1 - Cyclooxygenase-2 expression in primary and metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma
AU - Joachims, Zohar
AU - Feinmesser, Raphael
AU - Purim, Ofer
AU - Halpern, Marisa
AU - Brenner, Baruch
AU - Fenig, Eyal
AU - Roizman, Pepi
AU - Sulkes, Jaqueline
AU - Feinmesser, Meora
PY - 2008/10
Y1 - 2008/10
N2 - Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is involved in the development and progression of many tumors, and its inhibition has been shown to block tumor growth. This study examined COX-2 expression in primary and metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues from 26 primary MCCs and 7 lymph node metastases were stained immunohistochemically with a monoclonal antibody directed against COX-2, and the percentage and intensity of staining were analyzed semiquantitatively. Immunopositivity for COX-2 was found in 20 primary tumors (77%), and was diffuse in 16 of them (80%). Staining intensity was strong in 5 tumors (19%), moderate in 6 (23%), and weak in 9 (35%). Five metastases (71%) showed similar staining. Prominent mitotic activity was associated with more diffuse COX-2 immunopositivity. No association was found between COX-2 expression and outcome. This study confirms that most MCCs express COX-2 and shows that COX-2 expression is related to one parameter of aggressive behavior-a high mitotic rate-but not to any others. The possibility of treating MCC with COX-2 inhibitors should be considered.
AB - Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is involved in the development and progression of many tumors, and its inhibition has been shown to block tumor growth. This study examined COX-2 expression in primary and metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues from 26 primary MCCs and 7 lymph node metastases were stained immunohistochemically with a monoclonal antibody directed against COX-2, and the percentage and intensity of staining were analyzed semiquantitatively. Immunopositivity for COX-2 was found in 20 primary tumors (77%), and was diffuse in 16 of them (80%). Staining intensity was strong in 5 tumors (19%), moderate in 6 (23%), and weak in 9 (35%). Five metastases (71%) showed similar staining. Prominent mitotic activity was associated with more diffuse COX-2 immunopositivity. No association was found between COX-2 expression and outcome. This study confirms that most MCCs express COX-2 and shows that COX-2 expression is related to one parameter of aggressive behavior-a high mitotic rate-but not to any others. The possibility of treating MCC with COX-2 inhibitors should be considered.
KW - COX-2 expression
KW - Merkel cell carcinoma
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=55949122970&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/PAI.0b013e31815f982a
DO - 10.1097/PAI.0b013e31815f982a
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AN - SCOPUS:55949122970
SN - 1541-2016
VL - 16
SP - 442
EP - 446
JO - Applied Immunohistochemistry and Molecular Morphology
JF - Applied Immunohistochemistry and Molecular Morphology
IS - 5
ER -