Basic Research
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2004. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jul 1, 2004; 10(13): 1918-1922
Published online Jul 1, 2004. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v10.i13.1918
Expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 in pancreatic adenocarcinoma: Correlation with microvessel density
Hans U. Kasper, Hella Wolf, Uta Drebber, Helmut K. Wolf, Michael A. Kern
Hans U. Kasper, Michael A. Kern, Uta Drebber, Department of Pathology, University of Cologne, Germany
Hans U. Kasper, Michael A. Kern, Center of Molecular Medicine of the University of Cologne, Germany
Helmut K. Wolf, Department of Pathology, Johannes-Gutenberg, University of Mainz, Germany
Hella Wolf, Department of Pathology, University of Magdeburg, Germany
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Dr. Hans U. Kasper, Department of Pathology, University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Str. 9, D-50931 Koeln, Germany. hans-udo.kasper@uni-koeln.de
Telephone: +49-221-4787223 Fax: +49-221-478-6360
Received: November 18, 2003
Revised: January 10, 2004
Accepted: January 17, 2004
Published online: July 1, 2004
Abstract

AIM: Cyclooxygenases (COX) are key enzymes for conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandins. Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) is the enzyme responsible for formation of nitric oxide. Both have constitutive and inducible isoforms. The inducible isoforms (iNOS and COX-2) are of great interest as regulators of tumor angiogenesis, tumorigenesis and inflammatory processes. This study was to clarify their role in pancreatic adenocarcinomas.

METHODS: We investigated the immunohistochemical iNOS and COX-2 expression in 40 pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas of different grade and stage. The results were compared with microvessel density and clinicopathological data.

RESULTS: Twenty-one (52.5%) of the cases showed iNOS expression, 15 (37.5%) of the cases were positive for COX-2. The immunoreaction was heterogeneously distributed within the tumors. Staining intensity was different between the tumors. No correlation between iNOS and COX-2 expression was seen. There was no relationship with microvessel density. However, iNOS positive tumors developed more often distant metastases and the more malignant tumors showed a higher COX-2 expression. There was no correlation with other clinicopathological data.

CONCLUSION: Approximately half of the cases expressed iNOS and COX-2. These two enzymes do not seem to be the key step in angiogenesis or carcinogenesis of pancreatic adenocarcinomas. Due to a low prevalence of COX-2 expression, chemoprevention of pancreatic carcinomas by COX-2 inhibitors can only achieve a limited success.

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