Expression of Cox-2 and Bcl-2 in Paget's Disease of the Breast

• Published in: Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP Vol. 16; no. 3; pp. 1041 - 1045
• Main Authors: Alikanoglu, Arsenal Sezgin, Yildirim, Mustafa, Suren, Dinc, Tutus, Birsel, Kaya, Vildan, Topal, Cumhur Selcuk, Keser, Sevinc, Karadayi, Ayse Nimet, Kapucuoglu, Fatma Nilgun, Ayva, Sebnem, Gunduz, Seyda
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Korean
• Published: 2015
• Subjects: Paget's disease; Bcl-2; COX-2; inflammation; breast cancer
• ISSN: 1513-7368; 2476-762X

Background: Paget's disease (PD) is a rare form of intraepithelial adenocarcinoma that involves breast and extramammarian tissues. It is often associated with ductal carcinoma in situ and/or invasive ductal cancer. Molecular pathways that play a role in development of Paget's disease are stil unclear. Expression patterns of Cox-2 and bcl-2 were therefore assessed. Materials and Methods: Patients with a histopathological diagnosis of Paget's disease were included in this study. Patient files were analysed retrospectively. Results: Invasive cancer was diagnosed in 35 (76.1%) of the patients, 7 (15.2%) had ductal carcinoma in situ and 4 (8.7%) patients had no associated neoplasm. Twenty four (52.2%) patients showed COX-2 expression in Paget cells whereas no expression was seen in 22 (47.8%) patients. No relation was found between COX-2 expression and the lesion underlying Paget's disease (p=0.518). Bcl-2 expression in Paget cells was found positive in 12 (26.1%) and negative in 27 (58,7%) cases. There was no relation between Bcl-2 expression and the lesion accompanying Paget's disease (p=0.412). No relation was observed between COX-2 expression and Bcl-2 expression (p=0.389). Conclusions: In breast cancer, COX-2 expression is associated with poor prognostic factors. As COX-2 expression increases the tendency to metastasize also increases. In our study we found a significantly high COX-2 expression in Paget's disease of the breast. We suggest that COX-2 expression and inflammatory processes may play a role in pathogenesis of the Paget's disease of the breast.