Abstract:

Objective      To study relationships of tumor growth, metastasis and angiogenesis with protein expressions of cyclooxygenase-2(Cox-2) and heparanase(Hpa) in renal cell carcinoma(RCC).  Methods      Immunohistochemical staining with StreptAvidinBiotin Complex(SABC) was employed to determine expressions of Cox-2,Hpa and CD34 in 60 RCC tissues and 30 tumor-adjacent renal tissues. Cox-2 and Hpa expressions and microvessel density(MVD) in RCC tissues and tumor-adjacent renal tissues were analyzed and compared. Relations of MVD expression with clinicopathological parameters and prognosis were analyzed.  Results     Among 60 RCC tissues, positive rates of Cox-2 and Hpa expressions were 71.7% and 63.3%, respectively, and both of them were significantly higher than those in tumor-adjacent renal tissues(χ2=24.308,χ2=20.089, P<0.05). Increased expression of Cox-2 in RCC was associated with tumor size(χ2=4.34，P<0.05).　 Expression of Hpa was not related to tumor size, while it was significantly related to lymphatic metastasis (χ2=12.72, P<0.05).MVD were 125.74±35.68 and 70.87±23.64 in RCC with Cox-2-positive and negative expressions, and 138.56±40.74 and 80.88±21.52 in RCC with Hpa-positive and negative expressions, and there were significant differences among them(P=0.001). MVD was related to histological grade, clinical stage and prognosis of RCC(P<0.05).  Conclusion      Enhanced expression of Cox-2 is associated with tumor size. Cox-2 and Hpa can promote angiogenesis. MVD is related to prognosis.

Key words: Carcinoma, renal cell; Cyclooxygenase-2; Heparanase; Microvessel density