Hepatitis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Hepatitis, including details on hepatitis a, b, c, causes, symptoms.

Cyclooxygenase-2 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma, cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis in the United States.

Pazirandeh S, Khettry U, Gordon FD, Resnick RH, Murray JE, Sheth SG

Department of Gastroenterology, Lahey Clinic, 41 Mall Rd., Burlington, MA 02143, USA. sassan_pazirandeh@lahey.org

Aberrant expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in hepatocellular carcinoma was described in Asia. Using immunohistochemistry, we studied the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in hepatocellular carcinoma, chronic hepatitis, and cirrhosis in a US institution. A staining score of 0-5 representing the sum of an intensity score and a distribution score was used. The mean scores were 2.2+/-1.60 for chronic hepatitis, 4.37+/-1.15 for cirrhosis, and 4.76+/-0.54 for hepatocellular carcinoma. We found a significant difference in mean staining scores between chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis (p < 0.0001), as well as between chronic hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma (p < 0.0001). Fibrosis correlated with cyclooxygenase-2 staining score (r=0.65). In conclusion: (1) Cyclooxygenase-2 expression is higher in cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma when compared to chronic hepatitis. (2) Cyclooxygenase-2 expression correlates with the stage of fibrosis. (3) These results imply that in chronic hepatitis and possibly in cirrhosis, hepatocarcinogenesis may be a cyclooxygenase-2 dependent mechanism.

Published 12 January 2007 in Dig Dis Sci, 52(1): 220-7.
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