Comparison of COX2 Expression between Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Leukoplakia and Normal Mucosa

Abstract

Aim:To compare cyclooxygenase 2 expression (COX2-E) between normal, oral leukoplakia lesions and different grades of oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Materials and methods:Around 90 paraffin embedded blocks consisting of 45 SCC, 15 leukoplakia and 17 controls were selected for immunohistochemistry (IHC) for detection of COX2-E. COX2-E was divided in four grades, as A (0-10%), B (11-40%), C (41-70%) and D (> 70%) cellularity.Results: Mean age of the patients was 55.17 ± 18.41

Cyclo-oxygenase-2 expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma

“…[17] The results reported in this study about the grades of malignancy, are agreed with studies that found no correlation between the expression of COX-2 and the grade of malignancy. In the study performed by Pandey et al [30] and Amirchaghmaghi et al [2] no significant difference was observed in COX-2 expression between different grades of OSCC, these findings confirmed the results of present study. Itoh et al also found no association between COX-2 expression and histological grades of tumor.…”

“…[14] This finding is in consistent with the results of the present study. Similar findings have been reported by Chan et al [18] for head and neck SCC and by Amirchaghmaghi et al [2] and Nagatsuka et al [31] about OSCC.…”

“…However, no significant difference exists in COX-2 expression between high grade and low grade tumors. [2,12] The studies that have been done on these enzyme inhibitors have shown successful results. [13,14] Non-specific inhibitors of COX, the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and COX-2 specific inhibitors, have a significant effect in reducing the initiation and progression of tumors in both animal models and in the treatment of cancer …”

“…Recent studies showed an increased incidence of primary oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in young patients in Iran. [2] Despite recent advances in the areas of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the survival rate of patients suffering from these tumors is low. [1] Therefore, new molecular targets for the prevention and treatment of head and neck SCC and related cancers seem to be necessary.…”

Increased cyclooxygenase 2 expression in association with oral lichen planus severity

“…This speculation is consistent with the previous finding that demonstrated an increase in epithelial apoptosis in the ulcerative/erosive type of OLP 31 . Interestingly, COX-2 was also weakly expressed in the suprabasal cell layers of normal oral epithelium (Figure 1), which is in line with the findings from other studies in normal oral epithelium32, 33 and in normal epidermis 34 …”