Expression and significance of COX-2 and VEGF in lymph node metastasis of gastric adenocarcinoma

Objective To explone the relationship between lymph node metastasis and expression level of COX-2 and VEGF in gastric adenocarcinoma. Methods COX-2 and VEGF were detected in gastric adenocarcinoma with lymph node metastasis(58 cases) and without lymph node metastasis(33 cases) by using immunohistochemical SP method. Results The postive expression rate of COX-2 in the cases of clinical stage ⅠtoⅡ with lymph node metastasis(75%) was not significantly higher than those without lymph node metastasis cases(P0.05).The positive expression rate of COX-2 in the cases of clinical stage from Ⅲ to Ⅳ was significantly higher than that of the stage Ⅰ to Ⅱ.The cases with COX-2 positive expression have more lymph node metastasis than those without COX-2 expression(P0.05).There was a positive correlationship between COX-2 and VEGF in gastric adenocarcinoma with lymph node metastasis. Conclusion The expression of COX-2 in gastric adenocarcinoma of clinical stage Ⅰ and Ⅱwith lymph node metastasis is not different with those without lymph node metastasis.Overexpression of COX-2 played a critical role in the development of gastric carcinoma and lymph node metastasis by upregulating VEGF.