Analysis of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in different sites of endometriosis and correlation with clinico-pathological parameters

Anna Fagotti, Fagotti A, Gabriella Ferrandina, Francesco Fanfani, Francesco Legge, Lauriola L, Libero Lauriola, Gessi M, Marco Gessi, Paola Castelli, Castelli P, Barbieri F, Fabrizio Barbieri, Luca Minelli, Minelli L, Giovanni Scambia
Human Reproduction · 2004 · vol. 19(2) , pp. 393–397 · doi:10.1093/humrep/deh054 · PMID:14747187 · W2141373492
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This study found increased cyclooxygenase-2 expression in the ovarian endometriotic cyst wall compared to other sites, but no correlation with clinico-pathological parameters or patient symptoms.

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have demonstrated the overexpression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in endometriosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of COX-2 in different anatomical sites of endometriosis and its association with clinico-pathological parameters in a single institutional series of patients undergoing operative treatment. METHODS: COX-2 expression was analysed by immunohistochemistry in 136 samples of endometriotic tissue from 103 patients affected by endometriosis. RESULTS: COX-2 immunoreaction was observed in 78.5% of ovarian endometriotic cysts, in 11.1% of peritoneal implants and 13.3% of recto-vaginal nodules. COX-2 positivity was not distributed differently according to age, pre-operative serum levels of CA125 and AFS score. Moreover, COX-2 positivity did not show any significant variation according to the subjective intensity of pain, as dysmenorrhoea, chronic pelvic pain, lower urinary tract or gastrointestinal symptoms, or according to infertility. CONCLUSIONS: Increased COX-2 expression in the endometriotic ovarian cyst wall was observed with respect to other extraovarian localizations. No relevant correlations between COX-2 positivity and clinico-pathological characteristics and symptoms of patients were observed.

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Condition tags

endometriosischronic_pelvic_paindysmenorrheainfertility

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Endometriosis Isoenzymes Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases Adult CA-125 Antigen CA-125 Antigen Cyclooxygenase 2 Endometriosis Endometriosis Female Humans Immunohistochemistry Isoenzymes Membrane Proteins Ovarian Cysts Ovarian Cysts Ovarian Cysts Peritoneum Peritoneum

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