COX-2 Expression in Carcinoma of the Breast and Surrounding Non-neoplastic Breast Tissue

Background: Breast carcinoma is the most common malignant tumor andleading cause of cancer related death in women worldwide. Apart from traditionalmarkers, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor and Her-2neu, which areimportant for prognostication and staging purposes, a novel markercyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is being studied extensively. We intend to study thespectrum of COX-2 expression in normal breast tissue, ductal carcinoma in situ(DCIS) adjacent to invasive cancer, and in invasive cancer and compare COX-2expression with histological prognostic parameters and hormone receptor status.Methods: The present study is a prospective study that was conducted in thedepartment of Pathology, SGT Medical College and Hospital, Gurugram (2019-2020). Fifty patients, aged between 21 and 70, suffering from primary breastcancer constituted the study group. Various histological prognostic parameterswere assessed. Immunohistochemical profile of the tumor was assessed. COX-2score was correlated with various clinicopathologic parameters.Results: Among the total of 50 patients suffering from invasive breastcarcinoma, 94 percent (47/50) of cases showed the same COX-2 expression levelin normal breast epithelium and corresponding tumor areas and this correlationwas statistically significant. The correlation between the level of COX-2expression in tumor and DCIS was highly significant.Conclusion: Inhibition of COX-2 may represent a potential target forpreventing breast cancer oncogenesis and as an adjuvant treatment followingsurgery to reduce local recurrence.

COX-2 Expression in Carcinoma of the Breast and Surrounding Non-neoplastic Breast Tissue Keywords:

Autocrine effect , breast Cancer , carcinogenesis , COX-2 expression , paracrine effect