The close correlation between heparanase and COX-2 expression in lymphangiogenesis of cervical cancer

Recent observations indicate the vital role of heparanase in tumor lymphangiogenesis. Moreover, heparanase is involved in angiogenesis in esophageal cancer through induction of COX-2. However, it is unclear whether heparanase is also associated with COX-2 in lymphangiogenesis of cervical cancer. In this study, heparanase, COX-2 and VEGF-C expression were examined in 80 cervical cancer cases by immunohistochemical staining. We also studied the correlation of heparanase and COX-2 expression with lymphangiogenesis of cervical cancer quantified as lymphatic vessel density. Our results showed that expressions of heparanase and COX-2 were associated with lymphangiogenesis of cervical cancer. Furthermore, a significant correlation was found between the expression of heparanase and COX-2 (P < 0.0001). Heparanase is positively correlated with expressions of COX-2 and VEGF-C. These findings revealed that heparanase may play important function in lymphangiogenesis of cervical cancer via the regulation of COX-2 expression.