Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and Ki67 as related to disease severity and HPV detection in squamous lesions of the cervix

Objectives.To assess the expression of cyclooxygenase (COX-2) and Ki67 in cervical squamous lesions in relation to disease severity and human papillomavirus (HPV) detection.Subjects and methods.For this cross-sectional study, 223 women subjected to diathermic conization of the cervix have been enrolled, between February 2001 and April 2004. All patients undertook pelvic examination, including colposcopy and collection of samples for Hybrid Capture II (HCII). Pathological assessment disclosed: 9 cases of normal epithelium/cervicitis, 33 CIN1, 28 CIN2, 146 CIN3 and 7 invasive squamous cell carcinomas. COX-2 and Ki67 protein expression was determined with immunohistochemistry. COX-2 immunoreactivity grading was based on the German ImmonoReactive score. The continuum percentage of positive cells was used for the assessment of nuclear Ki67 expression.Results.Expression of COX-2 did not correlate with disease severity and with Ki67 expression. The HPV detection rates did not differ significantly across COX-2 protein expression strata, ranging from negative to strong expression. Ki67 expression, however, was higher in the CIN3 group (P = 0.001) as compared to the specimens rendered as normal/cervicitis.Conclusions.COX-2 protein expression did not correlate with disease severity or Ki67 expression.