Interaction between cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase in gastric cancer

Background: Chronic expression of cylcooygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nit ric oxide synthase (iNOS) may play an important role in gastric carcinogene sis. Thus, the purpose of our study was to assess the expression of COX-2 a nd iNOS messenger RNA (mRNA) in gastric cancer and to investigate the corre lation between the expression of COX-2 and iNOS mRNA in these patients. Stu dy: Twenty-three gastric carcinoma specimens and accompanying adjacent spec imens were obtained from surgical resection. The expression of COX-2 and iN OS were examined by comparative reverse transcription polymerase chain reac tion. Results: Cylcooygenase-2 and iNOS mRNA were significantly higher in g astric cancer tissues than in adjacent normal tissues. There was significan t correlation between the levels of COX-2 and iNOS mRNA in carcinoma tissue s. However, there was no significant correlation between the level of COX-2 or iNOS mRNA expression and several clinicopathologic parameters in these patients. Conclusion: The expression of COX-2 and iNOS may be one of the fa ctors that contribute to gastric carcinogenesis.