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BACKGROUND: Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression and tumour-induced angiogenesis appear to be increased in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin. In other cancers, COX-2 is a pro-angiogenic factor. The association between angiogenesis and COX-2 has not been studied in skin cancer. OBJECTIVES: To assess the onset of increased COX-2 expression and angiogenesis in the multistage carcinogenesis of SCC as well as the correlation between those two parameters. PATIENTS/METHODS: We performed a retrospective paired immunohistochemical analysis of normal skin, actinic keratosis (AK), Bowen's disease (BD) and SCC among 35 individuals. Specimens were considered COX-2 immunopositive when 5% or more of the tumour cells showed clear evidence of immunostaining. To quantify active angiogenesis, we used a Ki-67-CD34 double-labelling immunohistochemical stain and calculated the fraction of proliferating endothelial cells. The Chalkley method was used to determine the microvessel density. To detect hypoxia, a carboanhydrase IX immunostain was used. RESULTS: Compared with normal epidermis (0%), AK (31%), BD (22%) and SCC (40%) were significantly more likely to be COX-2 immunopositive (P < 0.01). The fraction of proliferating endothelial cells and the Chalkley scores paralleled multistage carcinogenesis (P < 0.05 between different stages). COX-2 immunopositivity was fairly correlated with hypoxia and higher proliferating endothelial cell fractions but not with Chalkley counts. CONCLUSIONS: Induction of COX-2 expression and angiogenesis are both early events in the development of SCC. In addition to ultraviolet light, hypoxia and COX-2 may be involved in skin tumour angiogenesis.

Original publication

DOI

10.1111/j.1365-2133.2004.06214.x

Type

Journal article

Journal

Br J Dermatol

Publication Date

10/2004

Volume

151

Pages

837 - 845

Keywords

Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Bowen's Disease, Carcinoma, Squamous Cell, Cell Hypoxia, Cyclooxygenase 2, Disease Progression, Female, Humans, Immunoenzyme Techniques, Isoenzymes, Keratosis, Male, Membrane Proteins, Middle Aged, Neovascularization, Pathologic, Precancerous Conditions, Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases, Retrospective Studies, Skin Neoplasms