Abstract: Objective    To evaluate the expressions and relativity of COX-2 and EGFR in nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC). Methods    The expressions of COX-2 and EGFR in 86 cases of NPC, 80 cases of chronic rhinitis and 30 cases of healthy persons were detected by the immunohistochemistry and ELISA methods.    Results    The positive expression rates of COX-2 were 87.9%, 73.3% and 43.3%, and the positive expression rates of EGFR were 84.8%, 78.3% and 50% respectively in the NPC group, chronic rhinitis group and healthy group. The expressions of COX-2/EGFR in NPC were significantly higher than those in the control group. The level of COX-2/EGFR in NPC was significantly higher than in healthy persons (P=0.022, P=0.017) in serum; COX-2/EGFR had significant difference in expression of different clinical stages, there are positive correlation between the expression of COX-2 and EGFR in NPC (r=0.558, P=0.021). Conclusion    These results demonstrate high expressions of COX-2 and EGFR may involve in the pathogenesis and progression of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Key words: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma, Epithelial growth factor receptor, Cyclooxygenase-2