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Cancer and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibition

J F Evans1, S L Kargman

  • 1Merck Research Laboratories, Rahway, New Jersey, USA. jilly_evans@merck.com

Current Pharmaceutical Design
|February 18, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) show promise in preventing colorectal cancer. Selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors offer potent anti-cancer effects by targeting tumor and stromal cells, potentially enhancing cancer therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Chronic use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), inhibiting cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), was linked to colorectal cancer prevention.
  • The discovery and cloning of COX-2 enabled the development of selective COX-2 inhibitors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role and therapeutic potential of selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors in cancer treatment.
  • To explore the mechanisms underlying the efficacy of COX-2 inhibitors in various cancer models.

Main Methods:

  • Expression profiling of COX-2 in cancer tissues.
  • In vitro and in vivo studies using animal cancer models.
  • Limited human clinical trials evaluating COX-2 selective inhibitors.

Main Results:

  • Selective COX-2 inhibitors demonstrated efficacy in preclinical cancer models and early human trials.
  • Inhibition of COX-2 in tumor and stromal cells reduces carcinogen production, proliferation, and angiogenesis.
  • COX-2 inhibition promotes apoptosis and enhances immune surveillance through effects on endothelial and myeloid cells.

Conclusions:

  • Selective COX-2 inhibitors possess significant anti-cancer properties.
  • Combining COX-2 inhibitors with standard cancer therapies like chemotherapy and radiation may offer novel therapeutic strategies.

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