Upregulation of cyclo-oxygenase 2 (COX-2) expression is frequently found in a variety of @entity1 @entity5 . In this study, we examined COX-2 expression in @entity957 of the hypopharynx. COX-2 messenger RNA (mRNA) analyzed by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction was detected in 87% (20 of 23) of @entity5 tissues. Expression of COX-2 protein was examined by Western blot analysis. COX-2 protein levels were increased in @entity5 tissues and correlated with the expression level of mRNA. Immunohistochemical study was performed to detect the subcellular localization of COX-2. Our results showed that COX-2 was predominantly detected in @entity5 cells, and the staining pattern was cytoplasmic. Several histologically normal adjacent tissues obtained from these @entity1 were also investigated. We found that COX-2 mRNA was detectable in these tissues. However, COX-2 mRNA and protein levels were lower in these tissues than in @entity5 specimens. In contrast, COX-2 mRNA and protein levels in normal oral mucosa obtained from healthy volunteers were very low or undetectable. The frequency of COX-2 overexpression was significantly higher in the N1-N3 group than in the N0 group. These results suggest that overexpression of COX-2 is linked with increased lymphatic invasion in @entity189 . Collectively, these results suggest that overexpression of COX-2 is a frequent phenomenon in @entity189 and may play a role in tumorigenesis of this @entity5 .

Overexpression of cyclo-oxygenase 2 in XXXX of the hypopharynx.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['human', 'patients'] @entity957 :: ('MESH:D002294', 'Disease') :: ['squamous cell carcinoma'] @entity189 :: ('MESH:D002277', 'Disease') :: ['hypopharyngeal carcinoma'] @entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['tumor', 'cancers', 'cancer']
@entity957 :: (MESH:D002294,Disease) :: ['squamous cell carcinoma']
