Objective To test the expression of COX-2 gene in human gastric carcinoma, adjacent nontumorous tissues and normal gastric mucosa. Methods Samples of cancer tissues, adjacent nontumorous tissues and normal gastric mucosa from twenty-four patients with primary gastric cancer were obtained during surgery. COX-2 mRNA was measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results The level of COX-2 mRNA in gastric carcinoma was significantly higher than that in adjacent nontumorous tissues and normal gastric mucosa (P< 0.01). There was no significant difference of the level of COX-2 mRNA between adjacent nontumorous tissues and normal gastric mucosa (P> 0.05). The level of COX-2 mRNA was not related to gender ( P> 0.05), age ( P> 0.05), tumor size ( P> 0.05), Lauren’s classification ( P> 0.05) and differentiation degree ( P> 0.05), but was correlated with lymphnode metastasis ( P< 0.01), distant metastasis ( P< 0.01), clinical stage ( P< 0.05) and tumor location ( P< 0.05). Conclusion The expression of COX-2 gene is increased in gastric carcinoma, and correlates with tumor lymphnode metastasis, distant metastasis, clinical stage and tumor location. COX-2 plays an important role in the growth and development of gastric carcinoma. |