Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in prostate adenocarcinoma and benign prostatic hyperplasia

Elevated expression of cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-2 has been found in several hu man cancers, including prostate adenocarcinoma. To evaluate the potential p rognostic role of COX-2 in prostate cancer; we assessed the expression of C OX-2 in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer samples empl oying immunohistochemistry. COX-2 was overexpressed in 15 out of 18 (83%) p rostate cancer samples was eas it was detected in only 22% (4 of 28) paired benign tissues. The intensity of immunostaining correlated with the tumor grading. In addition, COX-2 was expressed in 7 of the 22 (32%) BPH samples examined The significance a COX-2 expression in the BPH samples is not know n at present. This data suggest that COX-2 is over-expressed in prostate ca ncer and COX-2 inhibitors may be useful in combination chemotherapy or chem oprevention for prostate cancer