Detection of EGFR and COX-2 Expression by Immunohistochemical Method on a Tissue Microarray Section in Lung Cancer and Biological Significance

• Main Authors: Xinyun WANG, Juan LIU, Congzhong ZHU
• Format: Article
• Language: zho
• Published: Chinese Anti-Cancer Association; Chinese Antituberculosis Association 2010-02-01
• Series: Chinese Journal of Lung Cancer
• Subjects: Lung neoplasms; Epidermal growth factor receptor; Cyclooxygenase-2
• Online Access: http://www.lungca.org/index.php?journal=01&page=article&op=viewFile&path[]=10.3779%2Fj.issn.1009-3419.2010.02.05&path[]=1345
• ISSN: 1009-3419; 1999-6187

Background and objective Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), which can regulate growth, invasion and metastasis of tumor through relevant signaling pathway, have been detected in a variety of solid tumors. The aim of this study is to investigate the biological significance of EGFR and COX-2 expression in lung cancer and the relationship between them. Methods The expression of EGFR and COX-2 was detected in 89 primary lung cancer tissues, 12 premaliganant lesions, 12 lymph node metastases, and 10 normal lung tissues as the control by immunohistochemical method on a tissue microarray section. Results EGFR protein was detectable in 59.6%, 41.7%, and 66.7% of primary lung cancer tissues, premalignant lesions and lymph node metastases, respectively; COX-2 protein was detectable in 52.8%, 41.7%, and 66.7% of primary lung cancer tissues, premalignant lesions and lymph node metastases, respectively, which were significantly higher than those of the control (P < 0.05). The positive ratios and the levels of the expression of EGFR and COX-2 proteins were closely related to histological type, clinical stage and lymph node metastasis of lung cancer (P < 0.05), but not to histological grade, sex and age (P>0.05). COX-2 expression was related to gross type (P < 0.05). A highly positive correlation was observed between EGFR and COX-2 expression (P < 0.01). Conclusion Overexpression of EGFR and COX-2 may play an important role in the tumorgenesis, progression and malignancy of lung cancer. Detection of EGFR and COX-2 expression might be helpful to diagnosis and prognosis of lung cancer.