Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in human esophageal squamous cell carcinomas

AIM:To determine whether cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2)wasexpressed in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.METHODS:Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerasechain reaction(RT-PCR),western blotting,immunohistoc-hemistry and immunofluorescence were used to assessthe expression level of COX-2 in esophageal tissue.RESULTS:COX-2 mRNA levels were increased by>80-foldin esophageal squamous cell carcinoma when comparedto adjacent noncancerous tissue.COX-2 protein waspresent in 21 of 30 cases of esophageal squamous cellcarcinoma tissues,but was undetectable in noncanceroustissue.Immunohistochemistry was performed to directlyshow expression of COX-2 in tumor tissue.CONCLUSION:These results suggest that COX-2 may bean important factor for esophageal cancer and inhibitionof COX-2 may be helpful for prevention and possiblytreatment of this cancer.