The eicosanoid cascade: possible role in gliomas and meningiomas

Eicosanoids constitute a large family of biologically active lipid mediators that are produced by two enzyme classes, cyclooxygenases (COX-1 and COX-2) and lipoxygenases (5-LO, 12-LO, and 15-LO). Increasing evidence suggests that in addition to a variety of epithelial malignancies, the two most common types of human brain tumour, gliomas and meningiomas, aberrantly overexpress eicosanoid producing enzymes and release a spectrum of eicosanoids that may promote tumorigenesis and the development of peritumorous brain oedema. Glioma and meningioma cells are killed in vitro and in animal models when exposed to COX-2 and 5-LO inhibitors, and their effectiveness is under investigation in clinical trials for treatment of patients with malignant brain tumours. However, despite research into the role of the eicosanoid cascade in the tumorigenesis of human brain tumours, many important questions remain unanswered. Current and newer agents that specifically target key players of the eicosanoid cascade could change the approach to treating brain tumours, because their benefits may lie in their synergism with conventional cytotoxic treatments and/or with other novel agents targeted against other procarcinogenic pathways.