Cyclooxygenase-2 Expression in Prostate Cancer: An Inconsistent Therapeutic Target

Objectives: To determine cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression patterns in primary prostate tissue of patients undergoing androgen deprivation therapy and in patients with early stage disease. Methods: Gene and protein expression analysis were performed in freshly resected prostate cancer tissue obtained from patients with advanced stage cancer who presented with bladder obstruction Local stage cancer specimens were collected from patients undergoing radical prostatectomy (RP) Expression studies in fresh specimens included quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction, western immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Mean COX-2 gene expressions were compared in both stages. In addition to evaluating protein expression by IHC in fresh specimens, an unrelated archival specimen set of 23 additional clinically matched, advanced and 20 local stage cancer specimens were also analyzed. The pooled (fresh and archival) specimen set ( each) was then used for evaluating protein expression by IHC. Thirty non-c...