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Updated: May 10, 2026

A Method to Study the C924T Polymorphism of the Thromboxane A2 Receptor Gene
Published on: April 1, 2019
Cyclooxygenase-2 169C>G and 8473T>C gene polymorphisms and prostaglandin E2 level in breast cancer: a case-control
M S Fawzy1, N M M Aly, S M Shalaby
1Medical Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt. fawzi_ms@yahoo.com
Aims:
Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) with the resulting prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is linked to increased risk of human breast cancer (BC). The aim of this study was to determine COX-2 169C>G and 8473T>C gene polymorphisms and PGE2 level at various stages of BC clarifying the role of COX-2 gene polymorphism and PGE2 in relation to BC.
Methods:
The study population comprised 160 women at different stages of BC and 150 gender- and age-matched healthy control subjects. Plasma PGE2 was measured by ELISA, the COX-2 gene polymorphisms were determined using PCR-RFLP.
Results:
The variant alleles COX-2 169G and 8473C were significantly associated with BC susceptibility [OR=3.1, 95% CI (2.2-4.4), P<0.001 for 169C>G and OR=1.74, 95%CI (1.3-2.4), P=0.005 for 8473C]. However, both COX-2 gene polymorphisms were not associated with breast cancer stage. Plasma PGE2 levels were significantly increased in patients compared to the controls. In early and late stages of BC, there was a significant increase in the plasma PGE2 levels towards the presence of homozygous GG compared with homozygous CC (P<0.001) for 169 C>G, also towards the presence of CC than TT (P<0.001) for 8473T>C SNP.
Conclusion:
The 169C>G and 8473T>C polymorphisms of the COX-2 gene were associated with the BC in Egyptian women. Furthermore, individuals with COX-2 169GG and 8473CC genotypes showed significant increase in plasma PGE2 levels. PGE2 levels may serve as a predictor of poor prognosis in patients with BC.
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