COX-2及其转录因子NFAT3和c-Fos在非小细胞肺癌中的表达及意义

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Cyclooxygenases (COX), the key enzymes in the conversion of arachidonic acid (AA) to prostaglandins (PGs), are involved in initiation and progression of cancer. The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between the expressions of COX-2 and several transcription factors in non-small cell lung cancer. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry was performed to assay the expression levels of COX-2, c-Fos, c-Jun and nuclear factor of activated T cells 3 (NFAT3) in tissue microarray containing 159 tumor tissues of non-small cell lung cancer. RESULTS: The positive rate of COX-2 expression was 42.8%, and the expression of COX-2 was significantly higher in squamous cell carcinoma than that in adenocarcinoma (52.9% vs 31.3%, χ(2)=7.723, P=0.005). The expression of COX-2 was significantly associated with differentiation grade, with the lower level in the poorer differentiation grade group (χ(2)=7.600, P=0.022). In this panel of samples, the expression of COX-2 was significantly correlated with c-Fos expression (r=0.456, P < 0.001) and NFAT3 level (r=0.294, P < 0.001). The correlation between the expressions of NFAT3 and c-Fos were also observed (r=0.231, P=0.003). CONCLUSION: The expression of COX-2 was significantly associated with the expressions of transcription factors NFAT3 and c-Fos in nonsmall cell lung cancer.