COX-2 as a target for cancer chemotherapy.
Journal Title: Pharmacological Reports - Year 2010, Vol 62, Issue 2
Abstract
Cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 (COX-1/2) catalyze the initial step in the formation of prostaglandins. Very recently their role in carcinogenesis has become more evident. They influence apoptosis, angiogenesis, and invasion, and play a key role in the production of carcinogens. Usually, a high level of COX-2 expression is found in cancer cells. Large epidemiological trials studying users and non-users of aspirin have shown that cyclooxygenase inhibitors and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) could be of benefit against the development and growth of malignancies. Moreover, clinical trials in patients with familial adenomatosis polyposis syndrome have shown the efficacy of selective COX-2 inhibitors in the reduction of the number and size of colorectal polyps. Several preclinical studies show promising results with combinatorial treatments of either chemotherapy or radiotherapy with COX inhibitors. Preclinical studies with the simultaneous use of inhibitors of the epidermal growth factor receptor and COX-2 inhibitors have shown also promising results. Encouraging results from the first clinical trials combining chemotherapy with COX-2 inhibitors in patients with cancer in the advanced and neoadjuvant setting have recently been reported. Thus, it appears that targeting the COX-2 pathway is a promising strategy in the prevention and treatment of solid tumors.
Authors and Affiliations
Nilanjan Ghosh, Rituparna Chaki, Vivekananda Mandal, Subhash Mandal
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP139497
- DOI -
- Views 80
- Downloads 0
Effect of benzothiazole/piperazine derivatives on intracerebroventricular streptozotocin-induced cognitive deficits.
Background: In this study, benzothiazole-piperazine compounds were synthesized by condensing the functional groups of donepezil (DNP), FK-960, and sabeluzole, which are known to have therapeutic potential against Alzheim...
BDNF and VEGF in the pathogenesis of stress-induced affective diseases: An insight from experimental studies.
Stress is known to play an important role in etiology, development and progression of affective diseases. Especially, chronic stress, by initiating changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA), neurotransmiss...
Effects of carbamazepine and metabolites on IL-2, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10 and IFN-γ secretion in epileptic patients: the influence of co-medication.
Carbamazepine is a widely used anticonvulsive agent. Its metabolic pathway leads not only to the major active metabolite, carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide, but also to minor terminal metabolites such as iminostilbene and acri...
Effect of an NMDA receptor agonist on T-maze and passive avoidance test in 12-week streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
This study examined behavioral effects mediated by NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartic acid) receptors in 12-week streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Effects of an NMDA receptor agonist on behavior in the open field test,...
Exposure to alcohol and tobacco smoke causes oxidative stress in rats.
Tobacco smoking and alcohol abuse causes oxidative stress in humans and underlay numerous chronic degenerative diseases. Liver is the main organ exposed to alcohol toxic metabolites, whereas tobacco smoke is chiefly harm...