Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in ovarian mature cystic teratomas with malignant transformation

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) has been reported to be associated with tumor prog ression and angiogenesis and we previously reported that an increase in COX -2 expression might be associated with malignant transformation and tumorig enesis of epithelial ovarian neoplasms. In this study, COX-2 expression of ovarian mature cystic teratomas with malignant transformation, a rare entit y accounting for just 1.8% of all mature cystic teratomas, was investigated using immunohistochemical techniques. There were, 89 cases of mature cysti c teratomas treated with surgery as their initial therapy at Osaka City Uni versity Medical School Hospital between 1995 and 2001. Ten cases of these w ere selected for study; five cases of mature cystic teratoma with malignant transformation, and five cases of mature benign teratoma. Expressions of C D34, vascular endothelial orrowth factor (VEGF), and COX-2 were investigate d. Expressions of VEGF and COX-2 were strong in tissues of mature cystic te ratomas with squamous cell carcinoma; however, expressions of them were har dly apparent in mature benign teratomas and in mature cystic teratomas with adenocarcinomas. These results tend to suggest that COX-2 is associated wi th tumor growth and progression in mature cystic teratomas with squamous ce ll carcinoma, as opposed to mature benign teratomas and mature cystic terat omas with adenocarcinomas.