Elevated expression of cyclooxygenase-2 is a negative prognostic factor for disease-free survival and overall survival in patients with gastric carcinoma

Introduction: Cyclooxygenases regulate the production of prostaglandins and play a role in tumor development and progression. The authors investigated the prognostic impact of expression COX-2 in gastric cancer resected patients. Methods: A cohort of 194 patients with gastric cancer without distant metastasis who underwent RO gastric resection were enrolled in this study. Association between factors including clinico-pathological variables and COX-2 scores, were assessed. Results: A correlation between COX-2 expression, grading and advanced penetration dept (mean COX-2 expression 74% in early gastric cancer (EGC) versus 52 % in non-EGC, p=0.0017). There was an association between COX-2 expression and the presence of lymph-nodes metastasis (p<0,0001, 2) We also observed a significant association between COX-2 expression and relapse of disease (p=0.05 KM) but not with poor survival. Conclusions: High COX-2 protein expression, serosal invasion (pT3-pT4), and presence of lymph-node metastasis arepoorprognostic factors in patients with gastric carcinoma without distant metastasis.