Abstract:
Objective :To investigate the relationship between the expression of COX-2 mRNAand VEGF mRNA and the development of endometrial adenocarcinoma.
Methods :Quantitative re-verse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT- PCR) was used to examine the levels of COX-2mRNA and VEGF mRNA in the following groups:10 cases with atrophic endometrium, 10 with com-plex endometrial hyperplasia and 22 with endometrial adenocarcinoma.
Results :The relative amount ofCOX-2 mRNA and VEGF mRNA expressed in atrophic endometrium,complex endometrial hyperplasiaand endometrial adenocarcinoma were 8.86±19.12, 55.76±48.46, 132.64±56.99, and 15.23±24.86,57.30±49.40 and 142.31±59.45, respectively.The expression of these two genes in endometrial adeno-carcinoma and complex hyperplasia was significantly higher than in atrophic endometrium (P<0.001).The relative amount of COX-2 mRNA and VEGF mRNA in endometrial adenocarcinoma was signifi-cantly greater than in complex endometrial hyperplasia (P<0.01).COX-2 expression was positively cor-related with VEGF expression.
Conclusion :High COX-2 and VEGF expression levels are detected inendometrial adenocarcinoma tissue.These two genes play an essential role in tumor development andgrowth.COX-2 may stimulate angiogenesis through VEGF up-regulation.