Study Of Cyclooxygenase 2 Gene Polymorphism And Prostaglandin E2 Level In Breast Cancer

Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) with the resulting prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) are linked to increased risk of human breast cancer (BC). The aim of this study was to determine COX-2 169C>G gene polymorphism and PGE2 level at various stages of BC clarifying the role of COX-2 gene polymorphism and PGE2 in relation to BC.Methods: The study population comprised 80 women at different stages of BC and 30 gender- and age-matched healthy control subjects. Plasma PGE2 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the COX-2 gene polymorphism at position 169C>G was determined using PCR–RFLP method.Results: The mutated allele COX-2 169G frequency was 46.9% in BC patients and 25.0 % in controls; it was significantly associated with an increased risk of BC (OR: 2.65, 95 % CI: 1.31-5.42; P = 0.003). The homozygous mutant genotype (GG) significantly increased the risk of BC(OR: 7.13, 95% CI: 1.48-46.8; P = 0.004). However, COX-2 gene (GG genotype) was not associated with breast cancer stage. Plasma PGE2 levels were significantly increased in patients compared to the controls. In early and late stages of BC, there was a significant increase in the plasma PGE2 levels towards the presence of homozygous GG compared with homozygous CC (P< 0.001).Conclusion: The 169C>G polymorphism of the COX-2 gene was associated with the risk of BC in Egyptian women. Furthermore, individuals with COX-2 GG genotype showed significant increase in plasma PGE2 levels. PGE2 levels may serve as a predictor of poor prognosis in patients with BC.Key words: Plasma- PGE2, Cyclooxygenase-2 gene, Polymorphism, Breast cancer..