Iranian Journal of Pathology

Evaluation of Cyclooxygenase-2 Expression in Association with Clinical-Pathological Factors in Malignant Melanoma

Document Type : Original Research

Authors

Amir Hossein Jafarian 1
Nema Mohammadian Roshan 1
Masoumeh Gharib 2
Vahid Moshirahmadi 3
Aida Tasbandi 3
Amir Ali Ayatollahi 3
Hossein Ayatollahi 1

1 Associate Professor of Pathology, Department Of Pathology, Cancer Molecular Pathology Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

2 Assistant Professor of Pathology, Department Of Pathology, Cancer Molecular Pathology Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

3 Cancer Molecular Pathology Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

https://doi.org/10.30699/ijp.14.2.96
Abstract
Background and Objective: The primary goal of this study is to develop a rigorous understanding ofthe correlation between COX-2 expression and malignant melanoma prognostic factors.
Material and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed 60 cases of cutaneous malignant melanoma. The related stained slides were reviewed by two pathologists. The results were interpreted according to the COX2 staining index (SI), tumor thickness (Breslow, Clark), number of mitoses per 10 hpf, and melanoma types. Gender, lymph node involvement, metastasis, and survival were considered as evaluation factors as well.
 Results: The expression of the COX-2 protein was evident in 98.4% of cases. A strong Staining Index(SI) was reported in 60% of all melanomas, moderate staining was detected in 20.8% and weak staining in 10%; 1.6% of studied cases showed no staining. Benign nevus specimens showed no staining for the COX-2 enzyme.
Conclusion: We have demonstrated that COX-2 is strongly expressed in the majority of malignant melanomas and that the SI score of COX-2 is related to the number of mitoses, tumor thickness (based on Clark level and Breslow), melanoma sub-type, lymph node involvement, and metastases; No association was noted between the anatomic site, gender, and survival. COX-2 can be applied as a prognostic factor in malignant melanoma and a promising candidate for future target therapies.

Keywords

Malignant melanoma
COX-2
Prognostic Factors

Subjects

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Iranian Journal of Pathology
Volume 14, Issue 2
Spring 2019
Pages 96-103

  • Receive Date 05 September 2017
  • Revise Date 24 April 2018
  • Accept Date 10 June 2019

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