COXª²2 expression and its correlation with VEGF in endometriosis

    FAN Yang, CHEN Biª²Liang, CAI Guoª²Qing, MA Xiangª²Dong, WANG Deª²Tang, GUO Huiª²Ling

    Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi¡¯an 710033, China

    ¡¾Abstract¡¿ AIM: To investigate the expression of cyclooxygenaseª²2 (COXª²2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in endometriosis and their correlation with clinicalbiological behavior, and to probe the possible mechanism of their association. METHODS: The expression of COXª²2 and VEGF in 32 cases of endometriosis patients was detected by immunohistochemistry methods. RESULTS: The expression of COXª²2 and VEGF in endometriosis was 84.3% and 93.8%, respectively, which was significant higher than that of normal endometriosis (P<0.001). COXª²2 and VEGF of eutopic and ectopic endometrium in proliferative phase and secretory phase were 83.3%, 85.7% and 94.4%, 92.9%. The expression of COXª²2 was closely correlated with that of VEGF (r=0.747, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: COXª²2 and VEGF may play a key role in endometriosis. Both may have close relation in angiogenesis and may provide new targets for therapy of endometriosis. ......