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. 2004 May;59(5):428–433. doi: 10.1136/thx.2003.008912

Prognostic significance of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and expression of cell cycle inhibitors p21 and p27 in human pleural malignant mesothelioma

A Baldi 1, D Santini 1, F Vasaturo 1, M Santini 1, G Vicidomini 1, M Di 1, V Esposito 1, A Groeger 1, G Liuzzi 1, B Vincenzi 1, G Tonini 1, M Piccoli 1, F Baldi 1, S Scarpa 1
PMCID: PMC1746992  PMID: 15115874

Abstract

Background: A study was undertaken to analyse the potential prognostic value of the immunohistochemical expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and p27 in 29 malignant mesotheliomas already screened for the expression of p21 and p53.

Methods: Immunohistochemistry was used to determine the expression of COX-2 and p27. The correlation with survival of these factors and of p21 and p53 expression was assessed by univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results: A positive statistically significant correlation was found between p27 and p21 expression (p<0.0001), but there was a negative correlation between COX-2 expression and both p27 (p = 0.001) and p21 (p<0.0001). No statistically significant correlation was recorded between p53 and all the other immunohistochemical parameters. Univariate analysis showed that overall survival was strongly influenced by p21, p27, and COX-2 expression, but multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the only immunohistochemical parameter to influence overall survival of patients with mesothelioma was COX-2.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that COX-2 expression may be a useful prognostic parameter for mesothelioma.

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Selected References

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