[The expression and significance of HIF-1alpha and COX-2 in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma].

Objective: To investigate the protein and mRNA expression of HIF-1alpha and COX-2 in laryngeal squamous carcinoma, and their correlation with clinicopathologic parameters.

Method: The protein and mRNA expression of HIF-1alpha and COX-2 in fresh laryngeal squamous carcinoma tissues and adjacent normal tissues from 76 patients were examined by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.

Result: 1) The protein positive expression rate of HIF-1alpha and COX-2 in tumor samples were significantly higher than that in normal tissues (P < 0.05); The protein positive expression rate of HIF-1alpha were higher in moderately and poorly differentiated tumors than in well differentiated tumors (P < 0.05); While the protein positive expression rate of COX-2 were not associated with T stage (P > 0.05); 2) The mRNA positive expression rate of HIF-1alpha and COX-2 were 67.11% and 75.00% respectively, their expression were significantly higher in tumors than that in normal tissues (P < 0.05). The mRNA expression of COX-2 were not detected in normal tissues. The mRNA positive expression rate of HIF-1alpha were associated with T stage, but were not associated with differentiated clinicopathologic stage. 3) The protein positive expression rate of HIF-1alpha were associated with that of COX-2.

Conclusion: HIF-1alpha and COX-2 could up regulate each other to promote the development and metastasis of laryngeal squamous carcinoma.