[Expression and significance of COX-2 and its transcription factors NFAT3 and c-Jun in non-small cell lung cancer]

Abstract

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%, χ²=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 (χ²=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.

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COX-2、c-Fos、c-Jun和NFAT3在非小细胞肺癌组织中的表达（IHC, ×200）。A：COX-2在非小细胞肺癌组织中阳性染色；B：c-Fos在非小细胞肺癌组织中阳性染色；C：c-Jun在非小细胞肺癌组织中阳性染色；D：NFAT3在非小细胞肺癌组织中阳性染色。 Expressions of COX-2, c-Fos, c-Jun and NFAT3 in non-small cell lung cancer (IHC, ×200). A: positive staining of COX-2 in non-small cell lung cancer tissues; B: positive staining of c-Fos in non-small cell lung cancer tissues; C: positive staining of c-Jun in non-small cell lung cancer tissues; C: positive staining of NFAT3 in non-small cell lung cancer tissues.