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Cyclooxygenase-2 expression in human thyroid disease

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Abstract

Objectives: Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, which is the inducible form of the COX enzyme for prostaglandin synthesis and a key mediator of epithelial cell growth, has been shown to be up-regulated in gastrointestinal cancers. Additionally, regular intake of other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) is known to decrease the incidence of these cancers. Therefore, the goals of the present study were to determine the possible involvement of COX-2 in human thyroid diseases. Methods: We used immunohistochemical staining and Western blot analysis to characterize the expression of COX-2 proteins in thyroid tissues from 64 patients with thyroiditis, benign tumors, and malignant tumors with or without metastasis. Immunoreactivity scores were calculated by multiplication of the determined grades. Results: COX-2 proteins were not expressed in normal thyroid tissues. However, each type of tumor tissue showed intense bands of COX-2 protein expression in Western blot analyses, and the immunoreactivity scores were 7.67±1.17 (SD) for thyroiditis, 7.87±0.9 for benign tumors, 7.53±1.53 for follicular cancer, 7.63±1.11 for papillary cancer without metastasis, and 7.17±1.55 for papillary cancer with metastasis. No significant differences were found in the levels of COX-2 expression between different tumor tissue types. Conclusion: No significant correlations were observed between clinical and/or pathological characteristics of thyroid tumors and the intensity of COX-2 protein expression. In addition, we found no difference in COX-2 protein expression between thyroiditis and thyroid tumors. Thus, up-regulation of COX-2 protein synthesis in human thyroid diseases does not appear to be of clinical significance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Ajou University, San 5, Wonchon-dong, Youngtong-gu, Suwon city, Kyounggi Province, 442-749, South Korea

    K. J. Lee, Y. S. Jung, W. H. Kim, T. I. Yoon & E. Y. Soh MD, PhD

  2. Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Ajou University, Suwon, South Korea

    H. J. Joo

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  1. K. J. Lee
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  2. Y. S. Jung
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  3. W. H. Kim
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  4. T. I. Yoon
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  5. H. J. Joo
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  6. E. Y. Soh MD, PhD
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Correspondence to E. Y. Soh MD, PhD.

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Lee, K.J., Jung, Y.S., Kim, W.H. et al. Cyclooxygenase-2 expression in human thyroid disease. J Endocrinol Invest 31, 111–118 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03345576

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03345576

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