Expression of Aromatase Cytochrome P450 and Cyclooxygenase-2 in Endometriosis

Objective To study the expression and significance of aromatase cytochome P450(P450arom) and cyclooxygenase-2 in the ectopic and eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis.Methods The expression level for P450arom and COX-2 was determined by immunohistochemistry in 30 ovarian endometriosis patients and 30 normal individuals as control.Results The expression of P450arom and COX-2 in the ectopic and eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis was strongly positive, whereas the level of COX-2 was low and no expression of P450arom was found in the normal endometrium. The expression of P450arom and COX-2 in the ectopic and eutopic endometrium was not correlated to menstrual phase. The expression of COX-2 in the secretory phase was significantly higher than that in the proliferative phase in normal endometrium.Conclusion High level expression of P450arom and COX-2 may be closely related to the invasion and progression of endometriosis. Inhibition of the activity of P450arom and COX-2 may be used as a novel method for treatment of endometriosis. Determination the expression of P450arom may be conducted for the diagnosis of endometriosis.