COX-2 Expression in Breast Carcinoma with Correlation to Clinicopathological Parameters

OBJECTIVE: Breast carcinoma is the most common malignant tumor and the leading cause of carcinoma deaths in women. Its etiology is multifactorial, implicating reproductive factors, hormonal imbalances and genetic predispositions. Studies have shown that Cycloxygenase-2 (COX-2) plays an important role in the carcinogenesis and increased expression has been regarded as a poor prognostic factor. The objective of our study is 1. To study COX-2 expression in normal breast tissue, DCIS and invasive breast cancer. 2. To determine COX-2 expression with clinicopathological prognostic parameters. METHODS: Radical mastectomy specimens were studied for COX-2 expression by immunohistochemistry in 50 patients diagnosed as breast carcinoma. COX-2 expression is quantified as IHS Score and separately calculated for normal breast epithelium near the tumor, DCIS and invasive areas. Relationship between COX-2 expression with various clinicopathological parameters was evaluated. RESULT: The results of our study suggest an association of the expression of COX-2 to the factors associated with poor prognosis in breast cancer, such as larger tumor size, positive lymph node status, higher T stage and N stage and lymphovascular invasion. There was a higher COX-2 expression in the DCIS component as compared to the invasive ductal carcinoma component and the adjoining breast epithelium. CONCLUSION: Our study established the role of COX-2 in carcinogenesis and its association with adverse prognostic factors.