Relationship between lipoxygenase and human testicular cancer

The metabolism of arachidonic acid by either the cyclooxygenase (COX) or lipoxygenase (LOX) pathway generates eicosanoids, which have been implicated in the pathogenesis of a variety of human diseases, including cancer. They are now believed to play important roles in tumor promotion, progression, and metastasis, and the involvement of LOX expression and function in tumor growth and metastasis has been reported in human tumor cell lines. Expressions of 5-LOX and 12-LOX in human testicular cancer (TC), and normal testis (NT) tissues were examined, as well as effects of their inhibitors on cell proliferation in TC cell line. Expressions of 5-LOX and 12-LOX were detected by immunohistochemistry. Effects of LOX inhibitors on TC cell growth were examined by MTT assay. While 5-LOX and 12-LOX expressions were slightly detected in NT tissues, expressions of 5-LOX and 12-LOX were significant detected in TC tissues by immunohistochemistry. The LOX inhibitors inhibited the growth of TC cells. LOX is induced in TC, and results may suggest that LOXs are essential for cell growth of TC cells.