E-cadherin and Cyclooxygenase Enzymes in Predicting Survival of Serous Ovarian Cancer Patients

Studies have shown that cyclooxygenase (Cox) enzymes and E-cadherin have roles in ovarian cancer like many other cancers (Ali-Fehmi et al., 2005; Zahou et al., 2007). E-cadherin is expressed in epithelial cells and participates their differentiated functions and intercellular adhesion. Reduction or loss of E-cadherin expression represents transition from epithelial to mesothelial characteristics (Faleiro-Rodrigues et el., 2004; Brouxhon et al., 2007), which may be a step in carcinogenesis, invasion, or metastasis. On the contrary, increased Cox expression accompanies carcinogenesis and increased invasion (Gupta et al., 2003; Ali-Fehm et al., 2005). Based on their previously defined roles in carcinogenesis, the relation of E-cadherin and Cox enzymes in terms of carcinogenesis and invasion has been suggested in many cancers such as the lungs, bladder, kidneys, gastric, and colon (Chen et al., 2004; Jang et al.,2009). Cox-2 inhibition leads to increase E-cadherin expression and this relation was suggested as the target of newly developed therapies (Chen et al., 2004; Rao et al., 2006; Okamato et al., 2008; Jang et al.,2009). Despite these studies performed on other cancers, roles of these