Fig. 1Immunohistochemical findings of the degree of expressions of cyclooxygenase-2 in clear cell renal cell carcinoma showing 0 (A), 1+ (B), 2+ (C), 3+ (D), and 4+ (E). Non-neoplastic renal tissue (F) shows only focal immunoreactivity in a few renal tubules.
Fig. 2Kaplan-Meier curves of cancer-specific (A) and progression-free (B) survival in 137 patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC) depending on the degree of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression.
Fig. 3Western blot analysis of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) from Caki-1 and Caki-2 cell lines. Both cell lines expressed COX-2 protein.
Fig. 4Inhibition of cell proliferation by meloxicam treatment. MTT assay shows growth inhibition of Caki-1 (A) and Caki-2 (B) cell lines after treatment with various concentrations of meloxicam for 48 hr. Data presents as the percentage of control and shows mean ± standard deviation from three independent experiments. ap<0.05, bp<0.01.
Fig. 5Inhibition of cell invasion by meloxicam treatment. Histograms show the reduced invasive capacity of Caki-1 (A) and Caki-2 (B) cell lines after treatment with a 1.0 mM meloxicam for 48 hr. Representative photographs reveal reduced invaded Caki-1 cells by a 1.0 mM of meloxicam treatment (D) for 48 hr compared to control Caki-1 cells (C). Data presents as the mean invaded cell number and shows mean ± standard deviation from three independent experiments. ap<0.05.
Table 1Clinicopathological characteristics of patients with CCRCC and the correlations COX-2 expression
Table 2A univariate analysis of cancer-specific survival and progression-free survival in 137 patients with CCRCC (a log-rank test)
Table 3A multivariate analysis of cancer-specific survival and progression-free survival in 137 patients with CCRCC (a COX-2 proportional hazard model)