Background: Cyclooxygenase-2 expression is associated with unfavorable outcome in various cancers, and evidence is accumulating that carcinogenesis possibly evolves from intracellular changes in response to induction of this enzyme. Today selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors are being studied and used as complement in cancer treatment. This study examined the prognostic value of cyclooxygenase-2 expression in oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC).
Methods: Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 was determined in biopsies from 76 stage matched patients with OTSCC by immunohistochemistry between January 2000 and December 2004 in Stockholm, Sweden. Additionally, twelve samples taken after pre-operative radiotherapy were investigated.
Results: All OTSCC specimen expressed cyclooxygenase-2 by immunostaining. The cyclooxygenase-2 staining intensity increased significantly with more advanced stage (P=0.020). Fifty percent of the surgical specimen showed a decrease in immunostaining post-radiation (P=0.031). No association was found with survival.
Conclusion: Cyclooxygenase-2 expression has limited prognostic value in OTSCC.
© 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S.