International Journal of Hematology and Oncology 2023, Vol 33, Num 4 Page(s): 034-041
COX-2 Expression in Gastric Cancer

Handan BEKDEMIR1, Salim B. TEKIN2, Mehmet BILICI2, Kerim CAYIR2, Cemal GUNDOGDU3

1Ataturk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Erzurum, TURKEY
2Ataturk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Oncology, Erzurum, TURKEY
3Ataturk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Erzurum, TURKEY

Keywords: Cancer, COX-2 expression, Gastric
We evaluated the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in the patients with gastric cancer in our region. Twenty-six patients with gastric cancer were included into the study. Tissue samples were taken from the tumors and adjacent structures. Samples were histopathologically and immunohistochemically examined. COX-2 expressions at the tumors and adjacent tissues were measured. COX-2 was positive in 16 tumor positive tissues (61%) and negative in 6 tumor tissues (23%). There was a significant difference statistically between these two groups (p= 0.005). COX-2 was positive in 14 (63%) of 22 patients who had gastric cancer in intestinal type. COX-2 expression was also positive in 2 (50% ) of the remaining 4 cases with gastric cancer in diffuse type. COX-2 was positive in 5 (83%) of 6 well differentiated tumors, in 3 (37%) of 8 moderately differentiated tumors and in 8 (66%) of 12 poorly differentiated tumors. COX-2 was found positive in 5 (83%) of 6 cardia tumors and in 11 (55%) of 20 non-cardia tumors.

In conclusion, COX-2 expression in patients with gastric cancer was higher in tumor tissues than in adjacent tumor-free tissues. There was no statistically significant association between COX2 expression and both histological type and differentiation of the tumors (p > 0.05).