Abstract:Objective To investigate the expression of adhesion molecules cyclooxygenase-2（COX-2）and survivin protein in elderly patients with gastric cancer and their relationship with the pathological behavior and prognosis. Methods Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of COX-2 and survivin protein in 60 cases of elderly patients with gastric carcinoma, 30 cases of gastric epithelial dysplasia and 20 cases of normal gastric mucosa.The study was also combinedwith analysis of the pathological behavior and clinical followup survey of elderly patients with gastric carcinoma. Results The positive expression rates of COX-2 and survivin protein in elderly patients with gastric carcinoma were 63.3% (38/60) and 70.0% (42/60), respectively. The positive rates of COX-2 and survivin in elderly patients with gastric carcinoma were higher than that in epithelial dysplasia and normal gastric mucosa（P<0.05）. The expression of COX-2 and survivin were closely related to the infiltration of serosa, metastasis of lymph node and prognosis of patients (P<0.05). Conclusion The expression of COX-2 and survivin are closely related to carcinogenesis, metastasis and survival time in elderly patients with gastric carcinoma. Detecting the expression of COX-2 and survivin may be prognostic indicators of elderly patients with gastric carcinoma.

Key words:Stomach neoplasms,Cyclooxygenase 2,Prognosis,Survivin