Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2)

Stains
Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2)

Author: Nat Pernick, M.D. (see Authors page)

Revised: 24 October 2016, last major update October 2013

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PubMed Search: cox2[title]

Table of Contents

Cite this page: Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2). PathologyOutlines.com website. http://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/stainscyclooxygenase2.html. Accessed July 12th, 2017.

Definition / general

Not related to Cytochrome c oxidase (COX)
Cyclooxygenases 1 (COX1) and 2 (COX2), also known as prostaglandin H synthase, catalyze formation of prostaglandin from arachidonic acid
COX1 is constitutive form of enzyme on 9q; COX2 is inducible isoform on 1q, has 61% sequence homology with COX1
Regulated by mitogens, tumor promoters, cytokines, serum, free fatty acids, NSAIDs, selective COX2 inhibitors
Increased expression associated with poor clinical outcome in stage I/II non-small cell lung carcinoma (Arch Pathol Lab Med 2005;129:1113), possibly poorer outcome in follicular thyroid carcinoma (Arch Pathol Lab Med 2005;129:736)

Interpretation

Cytoplasmic staining

Positive staining - normal

Endothelial cells

Positive staining - disease

Breast, colorectal, esophageal, liver, lung, ovary, pancreas, prostate, skin, stomach tumors

Microscopic (histologic) images

Images hosted on other servers:

Lung adenocarcinoma (A: COX2+; B: COX2-; C: endothelial cells are positive control)

Fig 7-staining in follicular carcinoma

Diagrams / tables

Arachidonic acid pathway