Cyclooxygenase-2 and epithelial growth factor receptor up-regulation during progression of Barrett’s esophagus to adenocarcinoma

Figure 1 COX-2 staining in the sections from different stages of BE along with the sections from normal squamous and CLE nondetectable BE. A: Squamous epithelium (SE); B: Nondetectable BE in CLE (NB); C: Specialized intestinal metaplasia (SIM); D: Indeterminate/low-grade dysplasia (I/LGD); E: high-grade dysplasia (HGD); F: Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Strong COX-2 staining was detected in both NCP cells and ACP cells in the histological stages of SIM, I/LGD, HGD and EAC. A weak COX-2 staining was observed in the normal squamous epithelium.

Figure 2 EGFR staining in the sections from different stages of BE along with the sections from normal squamous and CLE nondetectable BE. A: Squamous epithelium (SE); B: Nondetectable BE in CLE (NB); C: Specialized intestinal metaplasia (SIM); D: Indeterminate/low-grade dysplasia (I/LGD); E: high-grade dysplasia (HGD); F: Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Strong EGFR staining was detected in ACP cells (arrowhead) in the histological stages of SIM, I/LGD, HGD and EAC. A weak EGFR staining was found in NCP cells (arrow) and in the normal squamous epithelium.

Figure 3 COX-2 expression and pathological severity of BE. COX-2 expression is plotted against the 4 stages of Barrett's esophagus. The line enclosed within the box represents the median value; the small circles indicate outlying data points. COX-2 expression in specimens with SIM, I/LGD, HGD and EAC was significantly increased in comparison with that in NB (P < 0.01). A significant positive correlation between COX-2 expression and histopathologic changes from SIM to EAC was observed (r = 0.97, P < 0.001).

Figure 4 EGFR expression and pathological severity of BE. EGFR expression is plotted against the 4 stages of Barrett's esophagus. The line enclosed within the box represents the median value; the small circles indicate outlying data points. EGFR expression in specimens with SIM, I/LGD, HGD and EAC was significantly increased in comparison with that in NB (P < 0.01). A significant positive correlation between EGFR expression and histopathologic changes from SIM to EAC was found(r = 0.97, P < 0.001).

Figure 5 Relationship between COX-2 expression and EGFR expression in 104 patients. A significant positive correlation between COX-2 expression and EGFR expression was found (r = 0.94, P < 0.001).