Abstract
COX-2 is an inducible enzyme expressed only in response to stimuli such as mitogens,
cytokines, growth factors or hormones, and is pro-inflammatory. It plays an important
role in tumorigenesis. The purpose of the present report is to review the clinical
aspects of COX-2 expression in ovarian malignancies.
A PubMed (http://www.pubmed.gov/) search of investigations published from July 2001 until August 2008 and containing
the term COX-2 in combination with ovarian malignancies was conducted. The clinical
aspects of the relevant investigations were reviewed.
COX-2 is expressed in ovarian tumors of low malignant potential (LMP), in epithelial
ovarian carcinoma (EOC) and primary peritoneal carcinoma (PPC) and apparently plays
a role in their carcinogenesis. Its expression seems to be correlated with VEGF that
serves as a predictor of poor prognosis in some non-gynecologic malignancies. COX-2
expression is higher in EOC than in LMPs.
The results with regard to the association between COX-2 expression and prognostic
factors, response to treatment and outcome in ovarian malignancies are inconsistent.
Clinical studies dealing with the effect of COX-2 inhibitors on outcome are scarce.
The use of COX-2 expression in gynecological malignancies in clinical practice remains
to be elucidated.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: June 19, 2009
Accepted:
May 28,
2009
Received in revised form:
May 26,
2009
Received:
January 26,
2009
Identification
Copyright
© 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
