Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd 2016; 76 - P118
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1592727

Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in cervical cancer correlates with lymphangiosis carcinomatosa

F Hoellen 1, A Waldmann 2, C Banz-Jansen 1, A Rody 1, M Heide 1, F Köster 1, J Ribbat-Idel 3, C Thorns 3, M Gebhard 4, M Oberländer 5, JK Habermann 5, M Thill 6
  • 1Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein Campus Lübeck, Klinik für Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe, Lübeck, Deutschland
  • 2Institute for Social Medicine and Epidemiology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Deutschland
  • 3Institute for Pathology, University Lübeck, Lübeck, Deutschland
  • 4Institute for Pathology, Hamburg, Deutschland
  • 5Section for Translational Surgical Oncology and Biobanking, Department of Surgery, University of Luebeck and University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Lübeck, Deutschland
  • 6Agaplesion Markus Krankenhaus, Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Frankfurt, Deutschland

Background: Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is associated with carcinogenesis and tumor progression. We analysed the impact of COX-2 expression in squamous invasive cervical cancer patients.

Patients and methods: Tissue samples of 123 cervical cancer patients were collected for a retrospective study performing immunohistochemistry (IHC) with an antibody against COX-2. Patients'clinical and survival data were analysed.

Results: Staining for COX-2 was found in 28 patients (23%) with significantly higher percentages in tumor cells compared to peritumoral stroma cells (p < 0.001). COX-2 expression was significantly associated with lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI; p = 0.017).

Conclusion: The correlation of COX-2 expression with LVSI suggests a possible impact of COX-2 on tumor progression in cervical cancer. Further studies including larger patient collectives are needed in order to perform analyses of clinical subgroups and patients' survival.