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Expression of Cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 in Human Breast Cancer

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Abstract

Purpose. We investigated the expression of cyclooxygenase (Cox-1 and Cox-2) in mammary tissues from patients with breast cancer.

Methods. We used reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry.

Results. The cancer cells showed very weak expression of Cox-1, but strong expression of immunoreactive Cox-2. In contrast, immunoreactive Cox-2 was very weak in all of the benign mammary tumors examined, including fibroadenoma (FA) and mastopathy (MP). Immunoreactive Cox-1 was also very weak in these benign tumors. The extent and intensity of immunoreactive Cox-2 polypeptides was significantly greater in the cancer cells than in the FA cells or MP cells. RT-PCR analysis showed enhanced expression of Cox-2, but not Cox-1 in breast cancer tissue, and faint expression of Cox-2 in benign tissue.

Conclusions. These results demonstrated that human breast cancer cells generated Cox-2, indicating that Cox-2 might play an important role in the proliferation of breast cancer cells.

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Yoshimura, N., Sano, H., Okamoto, M. et al. Expression of Cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 in Human Breast Cancer. Surg Today 33, 805–811 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00595-003-2606-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00595-003-2606-3

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