부산대학교 도서관

Background This study aimed to investigate the expression profile of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in desmoid tumor specimens and to evaluate the correlation of intratumoral COX-2 expression with pain status. Methods Sixteen patients with histologically proven desmoid tumors who attended our institution between 2003 and 2010 were enrolled in this study. COX-2 protein expression in desmoid tumors was determined by immunohistochemistry. COX-2 - positive cells had similar morphology to that of mast cells, and therefore, immunohistochemical staining for tryptase was performed in co-localized sections. The number of COX-2 -positive cells in 10 consecutive fields was counted at 400× magnification. Patients were stratified into 2 groups according to the number of COX-2- positive cells, the COX-2 -positive group ( ≧10 COX-2 - positive cells) and the COX-2 -negative group (<10 COX-2 -positive cells). The prevalence of painful tumors was compared between the 2 groups. Results COX-2 was expressed in 9 patients (56%). COX-2 proteins were expressed not in tumor cells but in tryptase-positive mast cells in the stroma of desmoid tumors. 6 of 9 patients in COX-2 -positive group had painful tumors. This difference was statistically significant according to the chi-squared test (p =0 .036), suggesting a positive correlation between COX-2 expression and tumor-associated pain. Conclusions Our results indicated that COX-2 secretion from mast cells modulates desmoid tumorassociated pain. In addition, mast cells may at least in part contribute to the pathogenesis of desmoid tumors. Virtual slide The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/1490389349103056. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]