The Effect of Cyclooxygenase-2 Expression in Uterine Carcinosarcoma on Survival: A Reassessment Based on Mature Data.

Objective To reassess the effect cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in carcinosarcoma on survival based on mature 5-year survival data. Method A comparison of 5-year survival of 27 patients with carcinosarcoma according to the presence of COX-2 immunohistochemical staining and staining score was performed. Results The 5-year survival of those with positive and negative COX-2 staining was statistically not different. However, there was a clear trend for more favorable 5-year survival in patients with a high staining score than in those with a low score, and the difference was of borderline significance (38.5% vs 7.1%; P = 0.06). Conclusion In view of the role of COX-2 in carcinogenesis, our finding that COX-2 expression may confer a better survival in patients with carcinosarcoma is intriguing. Larger studies are indicated to elucidate the effect of COX-2 expression on survival in patients with carcinosarcoma because this may have therapeutic implications.