de Souza do Nascimento J, Carlos R, Delgado-Azañero W, Mosqueda Taylor A, de Almeida OP, Romañach MJ, de Andrade BAB. Immunohistochemical expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in oral nevi and melanoma.
J Oral Pathol Med 2016;
45:440-3. [PMID:
26608958 DOI:
10.1111/jop.12385]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) catalyses the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandin, and its overexpression has been demonstrated in different malignant tumors, including cutaneous melanoma. However, no data about the expression of this protein in oral melanocytic lesions are available to date. The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of COX-2 in oral nevi and melanomas, comparing the results with correspondent cutaneous lesions.
METHODS
COX-2 was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 49 oral melanocytic lesions, including 36 intramucosal nevi and 13 primary oral melanomas, and in four cutaneous nevi and eight melanomas.
RESULTS
All cases of oral and cutaneous melanomas were positive for COX-2. On the other hand, all oral and cutaneous melanocytic nevi were negative.
CONCLUSION
COX-2 is highly positive in oral melanomas and negative in oral nevi and might represent a useful marker to distinguish melanocytic lesions of the oral cavity.
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