Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and mucin 1 in colorectal cancer

In colorectal cancer (CRC), pathological factors that correlate with negative prognosis include, among others, overexpression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and abundant expression of mucin 1 (MUC1). COX-2 overexpression may therefore be associated with MUC1 overexpression. The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible correlation between COX-2 and MUC1 expression and to assess the correlation between their individual expression and the clinicopathological features of patients, paying particular attention to survival. The following data was collected from the 170 patients with CRC included in the present study: Age, sex, tumour localization, disease stage and survival. Tumour samples were immunostained with antibodies against COX-2 and MUC1. Protein expression was scored, relative to reference staining, and correlated with the clinicopathological data of patients. The results revealed no correlation between the expressions of COX-2 and MUC1, or with any of the studied clinicopathological variables. In addition, the expression of the two proteins were not associated. Neither of the proteins demonstrated prognostic value for survival. The present study did not confirm a direct relationship between the expressions of COX-2 and MUC1, or between the expression of either protein and the clinicopathological features of patients, including survival.