Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in the mucosa of the gastroesophageal junction in patients with Barrett’s oesophagus – the results of ablation therapy with argon plasma coagulation and laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication

• Main Authors: Kazimierz Rembiasz, Marcin Migaczewski, Andrzej Budzyński, Anna Zub-Pokrowiecka, Marek Winiarski
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Termedia Publishing House 2010-06-01
• Series: Videosurgery and Other Miniinvasive Techniques
• Subjects: Barrett’s oesophagus cyclooxygenase-2; argon plasma coagulation; laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication
• Online Access: http://www.termedia.pl/Original-paper-Expression-of-cyclooxygenase-2-in-the-mucosa-of-the-gastroesophageal-junction-in-patients-with-Barrett-8217-s-oesophagus-8211-the-results-of-ablation-therapy-with-argon-plasma-coagulati,42,14923,1,0.html

Introduction: Barrett’s oesophagus (BE) is a result of replacement of the mucosa of the distal oesophagus by metaplasticcolumnar epithelium. The role of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and chronic inflammation in the progression of BEtoward adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus is emphasized. Argon plasma coagulation (APC) allows for effective ablationof metaplastic mucosa. It is believed that effective suppression of gastric secretion with proton pump inhibitors(PPI) promotes squamous cell re-epithelialization and a decrease in expression of some biomarkers including COX-2.A similar effect can be achieved by the anti-reflux procedure.Aim: To evaluate the usefulness of COX-2 expression in determining the risk of malignant transformation in patientswith BE.Material and methods: Patients from two out of three study groups underwent APC ablation of metaplastic mucosacombined with chronic PPI administration (group A) or laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (group B). Controls (group K)were submitted only to PPI treatment. Expression of COX-2 was evaluated in fresh-frozen biopsy specimens obtainedfrom the distal oesophagus in all 60 patients before and 12 months after treatment.Results: Overexpression of COX-2 was found in 41 patients (68.3%). The highest degree of COX-2 expression was documentedin patients with dysplasia. After treatment overexpression of COX-2 was markedly reduced in patients fromgroups A and B, which correlated well with histopathological findings. Controls did not show important changes inCOX-2 expression.Conclusions: Significant correlation of the degree of COX-2 overexpression with histopathological findings points tothe possible use of this biomarker as a valuable indicator of the risk of malignant transformation in patients with BE.