Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 27, 2026
13:19
Microarray-based Identification of Individual HERV Loci Expression: Application to Biomarker Discovery in Prostate Cancer
Published on: November 2, 2013
HER2 and COX2 expression in human prostate cancer
J Edwards1, R Mukherjee, A F Munro
1Endocrine Cancer Research Group, Section of Surgical and Translational Research, Division of Cancer Sciences and Molecular Pathology, University Department of Surgery, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, Scotland G31 2ER, UK.
European Journal of Cancer (Oxford, England : 1990)
|December 23, 2003
Summary
Prostate cancer shows high cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) expression, a potential therapeutic target. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expression did not correlate with COX2 in this study.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) and Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2) expression are linked to poor prognosis in prostate cancer.
- HER2 has been previously associated with COX2 expression in colorectal cancer.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between COX2 and HER2 expression in prostate cancer.
- To determine if HER2 drives COX2 expression in prostate cancer.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 117 prostate cancer or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) tissues.
- HER2 amplification assessed by fluorescent in situ hybridization.
- HER2 and COX2 protein expression evaluated by immunohistochemistry (IHC).
Main Results:
- All prostate tumors exhibited significantly higher COX2 expression than BPH tissue (P=0.041).
- Low levels of HER2 gene amplification (8%) and HER2 protein expression (12%) were observed.
- HER2 protein expression was infrequent and did not correlate with HER2 amplification or COX2 expression.
Conclusions:
- HER2 does not appear to drive COX2 expression in prostate cancer.
- High COX2 levels in locally advanced prostate cancer suggest it as a potential therapeutic target.
- COX2 inhibitors are under investigation for other cancer types.
