Expression of COX-2 and PGE synthase and synthesis of PGE2 in endometrial adenocarcinoma: a possible autocrine/paracrine regulation of neoplastic cell function via EP2/EP4 receptors

摘要

This study was designed to investigate the possible role of cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in endometrial adenocarcinoma. COX-2 RNA expression was confirmed in various grades of adenocarcinoma by ribonuclease protection assay. COX-2 and microsomal glutathione-dependent prostaglandin E synthase (mPGES) expression and PGE2 synthesis were localised to the neoplastic epithelial cells and endothelial cells. In order to establish whether PGE2 has an autocrine/paracrine effect in adenocarcinomas, we investigated the expression of 2 subtypes of PGE2 receptors, namely EP2 and EP4, by real time quantitative PCR. Expression of EP2 and EP4 receptors was detected in adenocarcinomas from all grades of differentiation and was significantly higher than that detected in normal secretory phase endometrium (P 2. cAMP production in response to PGE2 was significantly higher in carcinoma tissue than that detected in normal secretory phase endometrium (3.42 ± 0.46 vs 1.15 ± 0.05 respectively; P 2 may regulate neoplastic cell function in an autocrine/paracrine manner via the EP2/EP4 receptors. ? 2001 Cancer Research Campaign http://www.bjcancer.com