Integrative analysis reveals an indirect connection between COX-2/PTGS2
and extracellular matrix proteins in Ch11q-deleted neuroblastoma
Abstract
The COX-2 protein, encoded by the PTGS2 gene, is related to tumor
progression in adult and pediatric cancer. In neuroblastoma (NB), COX-2
was associated with loss of heterozygosity on the long arm of chromosome
11 (Ch11q loss of heterozygosity, LOH), defining a subset of aggressive
disease. The present study aimed to investigate the protein expression
of COX-2 in a set of 82 pre-chemotherapy (CT) and 20 post-CT NB
specimens and its correlation with clinical and genomic data. A systems
biology approach elucidated the network interaction of PTGS2 and other
inflammation-related genes with those codified in the Ch11q deleted
regions. The results indicated a significantly higher expression of
COX-2 in post-CT samples. In addition, a significant positive
correlation between the presence of aberrations in Ch11q and COX-2
levels and an indirect connection between the COX-2 gene and
extracellular matrix remodeling (ECM)-related proteins were observed.
Our findings suggest that deregulation of ECM proteolysis in
Ch11q–deleted NB could elicit stromal alterations, triggering
inflammatory responses via COX-2 overexpression, ultimately supporting
NB progression.