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Increased cyclooxygenase-2 expression is correlated with suppressed antitumor immunity in cervical adenocarcinomas

T-H Chen1, K Fukuhara, M Mandai

  • 1Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan.

International Journal of Gynecological Cancer : Official Journal of the International Gynecological Cancer Society
|May 10, 2006
PubMed

Insights

High cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and low CD8+ lymphocyte counts indicate poor prognosis in cervical adenocarcinoma. COX-2 may suppress the immune system

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Immunology
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibition shows potential in suppressing tumor growth.
  • Cervical adenocarcinomas exhibit aggressive behavior and COX-2 overexpression.
  • Augmenting antitumor immunity via cytotoxic lymphocytes is a proposed mechanism for COX-2 inhibition.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the expression of COX-2 and CD8+ lymphocyte infiltration in cervical adenocarcinomas.
  • To investigate the correlation between COX-2 expression, CD8+ lymphocyte infiltration, and clinicopathologic features.
  • To determine the prognostic significance of COX-2 and CD8+ lymphocytes in cervical adenocarcinoma.

Main Methods:

  • Immunohistochemistry was used to assess COX-2 expression and CD8+ lymphocyte infiltration in 55 cervical adenocarcinoma samples.
  • COX-2 expression and tumor stromal CD8+ lymphocytes were evaluated using semiquantitative methods.
  • Intraepithelial lymphocytes were counted microscopically, and correlations with clinicopathologic data were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • 67.3% of cervical adenocarcinomas (37/55) showed significant COX-2 expression.
  • Patients who died within 5 years had higher COX-2 expression (100%) compared to survivors (58.1%).
  • Deceased patients exhibited lower intraepithelial CD8+ lymphocyte counts (3.4) than survivors (26.4).
  • A significant inverse correlation was found between COX-2 expression and intraepithelial CD8+ lymphocyte counts (r=-0.38, P<0.01).

Conclusions:

  • Up-regulated COX-2 expression and decreased intraepithelial CD8+ lymphocyte counts are associated with a poor prognosis in cervical adenocarcinoma.
  • COX-2 may play a crucial role in suppressing host antitumor immunity in this cancer type.

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