TY - JOUR
T1 - Increased expression of nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 is associated with poor survival in cervical cancer treated with radiotherapy
AU - Chen, Helen H.W.
AU - Su, Wu Chou
AU - Chou, Cheng Yang
AU - Guo, How Ran
AU - Ho, Sheng Yow
AU - Que, Jenny
AU - Lee, Wen Ying
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported by Grant NCKUH-92-072 from the National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan, and Grant NSC 92-2314-B006-057 from the National Science Council, Taiwan.
PY - 2005/11/15
Y1 - 2005/11/15
N2 - Purpose: To investigate the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in cervical cancer and their association with clinical outcome in patients treated with radical radiotherapy. Methods and Materials: One hundred sixty-seven consecutive patients with FIGO Stages IB-IVA squamous cell cervical cancer underwent radical radiotherapy, including external-beam radiotherapy or high-dose-rate brachytherapy, or both, between 1989 and 2002. Immunohistochemical studies of their formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues were performed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify and evaluate the effects of the factors affecting patient survival. Results: Positive immunostainings of iNOS and COX-2 were observed in 58.7% and 64.1% of the participants, respectively. The expression of both iNOS and COX-2 was positively correlated (Spearman correlation coefficient = 0.49, p < 0.01), and their overexpression provided independent predictors of distant metastasis (odds ratio = 5.22 and 10.07, respectively; p < 0.01 for all). iNOS- and COX-2-expressing patients had significantly shorter disease-free survival (p < 0.01, both) and cause-specific overall survival (p = 0.01, p < 0.01, respectively). Patients with iNOS-positive/COX-2-positive tumors had the poorest survival rates. Coexpression of iNOS/COX-2, together with bulky tumor and advanced stage were independent prognostic factors for disease-free survival. Conclusion: Overexpression of iNOS or COX-2 or both was associated with decreased survival and a greater propensity to metastasize in cervical cancer patients treated with radiotherapy. Coexpression of iNOS and COX-2 may represent a useful biologic marker in patients receiving radical radiotherapy for cervical cancer.
AB - Purpose: To investigate the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in cervical cancer and their association with clinical outcome in patients treated with radical radiotherapy. Methods and Materials: One hundred sixty-seven consecutive patients with FIGO Stages IB-IVA squamous cell cervical cancer underwent radical radiotherapy, including external-beam radiotherapy or high-dose-rate brachytherapy, or both, between 1989 and 2002. Immunohistochemical studies of their formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues were performed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify and evaluate the effects of the factors affecting patient survival. Results: Positive immunostainings of iNOS and COX-2 were observed in 58.7% and 64.1% of the participants, respectively. The expression of both iNOS and COX-2 was positively correlated (Spearman correlation coefficient = 0.49, p < 0.01), and their overexpression provided independent predictors of distant metastasis (odds ratio = 5.22 and 10.07, respectively; p < 0.01 for all). iNOS- and COX-2-expressing patients had significantly shorter disease-free survival (p < 0.01, both) and cause-specific overall survival (p = 0.01, p < 0.01, respectively). Patients with iNOS-positive/COX-2-positive tumors had the poorest survival rates. Coexpression of iNOS/COX-2, together with bulky tumor and advanced stage were independent prognostic factors for disease-free survival. Conclusion: Overexpression of iNOS or COX-2 or both was associated with decreased survival and a greater propensity to metastasize in cervical cancer patients treated with radiotherapy. Coexpression of iNOS and COX-2 may represent a useful biologic marker in patients receiving radical radiotherapy for cervical cancer.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=27144471684&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=27144471684&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2005.03.062
DO - 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2005.03.062
M3 - Article
C2 - 16099602
AN - SCOPUS:27144471684
SN - 0360-3016
VL - 63
SP - 1093
EP - 1100
JO - International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics
JF - International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics
IS - 4
ER -
