Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and its correlation with vasogenic brain edema in human intracranial meningiomas

COX-2 expression was evalueted in intracranial meningiomas, relating this molecule to grade, vasculature, VEGF and brain edema. Fifty-six tumors were evaluated for COX-2 and VEGF expression and for microvessel density. In 34/56 cases, the edema was evaluated by CT scan. COX-2 was detected in 46/56 meningiomas (82.14%), and it resulted as being related to histologic grade (t-test: p = 0.006) and to edema (t-test: p = 0.002). No statistical association between COX-2 and VEGF or MVD was found. In conclusion, COX-2 seems to be related to the more aggressive meningiomas and, somehow, to the development of meningioma-associated brain edema.