Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 25, 2026
Validated Immunochemical Assay for Comprehensive Determination of the Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 Released from and Bound to Cells
Published on: May 9, 2025
Cyclooxygenase-2 and human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER-2) expression simultaneously in invasive and
Adrienne Pratti Lucarelli1, Maria Marta Martins, Wagner Montor
1Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo Hospital, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. adrilucarelli@terra.com.br
Context And Objective:
Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER-2) are associated with tumorigenesis. Studies have shown that HER-2 can regulate COX-2 expression. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between COX-2 and HER-2 expression in normal breast epithelium and in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) present in the same breast.
Design And Setting:
Cross-sectional study at the Mastology Unit of the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo Hospital.
Methods:
COX-2 and HER-2 were detected using immunohistochemistry on 100 tissue fragments. HER-2 > +2 was subjected to fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).
Results:
COX-2 expression was detected in 87%, 85% and 75% of IDC, DCIS and normal epithelium, respectively. HER-2 expression was detected in 34% of IDC and 34% of DCIS. COX-2 in DCIS correlated with HER-2 in IDC (P = 0.049) and DCIS (P = 0.049). COX-2 in normal epithelium correlated with HER-2 in IDC (P = 0.046) and DCIS (P = 0.046). COX-2 in IDC was not associated with HER-2 (P = 0.235). Comparison between COX-2 and HER-2 in DCIS showed that there was a statistically significant difference with regard to nuclear grades II and III and presence of comedonecrosis (P < 0.001). In IDC, there was significant expression with nuclear grades II and III and histological grade II (P < 0.001).
Conclusions:
Our findings provide evidence that HER-2 and COX-2 regulate each other.
