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Cyclo-oxygenase 2: a pharmacological target for the prevention of cancer

A J Dannenberg1, N K Altorki, J O Boyle

  • 1Department of Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University and Strang Cancer Prevention Center, New York, USA. ajdannen@med.cornell.edu

The Lancet. Oncology
|March 22, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX 2) inhibitors show promise for cancer prevention. Research suggests COX 2 plays a role in cancer development, and selective inhibitors are safe for clinical trials.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Carcinogenesis research is vital for developing cancer prevention strategies.
  • Chemoprevention, using drugs or natural substances to inhibit cancer, is a rapidly advancing field.
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX 2) is an inducible enzyme implicated in cancer development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review evidence supporting cyclooxygenase 2 (COX 2) as a pharmacological target for cancer chemoprevention.
  • To discuss the role of COX 2 in carcinogenesis and its mechanisms of action.
  • To assess the safety and clinical trial readiness of selective COX 2 inhibitors.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on COX 2 and carcinogenesis.
  • Analysis of data implicating COX 2 activity in cancer development.
  • Evaluation of safety data for selective COX 2 inhibitors in humans.

Main Results:

  • Evidence suggests a causal link between increased COX 2 activity and carcinogenesis.
  • Potential mechanisms of COX 2 action in cancer development are discussed.
  • Selective COX 2 inhibitors demonstrate sufficient safety for large-scale clinical testing.

Conclusions:

  • Selective COX 2 inhibitors represent a promising strategy for cancer chemoprevention.
  • Ongoing clinical trials are evaluating the efficacy of these inhibitors in healthy individuals.
  • Targeting COX 2 offers a viable therapeutic avenue for cancer prevention.

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