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Resistance of prostate cancer cell lines to COX-2 inhibitor treatment

Matthew Wagner1, James Loos, Nicole Weksler

  • 1Division of Urology and Renal Transplantation, Oregon Health and Science University, Oregon Cancer Institute, Portland, OR, USA.

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
|May 24, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is crucial for colon cancer prevention but not prostate cancer. Prostate cancer cells show low COX-2 expression and activity, suggesting it does not drive prostate cancer development.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is a validated target for cancer chemoprevention, particularly in colon cancer.
  • The role of COX-2 in prostate cancer development remains unclear, with existing data being correlative.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare COX-2 expression, activity, and the effects of its inhibition in prostate cancer cells versus COX-2-dependent colon cancer cells.
  • To investigate the role of COX-2 in prostate cancer carcinogenesis.

Main Methods:

  • Immunohistochemistry was used to determine COX-2 levels in benign and malignant human prostate tissue.
  • Prostate and colon cancer cell lines were used to compare COX-2 expression, activity (PGE2 production), and response to selective COX-2 inhibition.

Main Results:

  • Prostate cancer cells exhibited lower COX-2 levels and produced less PGE2 compared to colon cancer cells.
  • Prostate cancer cells were resistant to selective COX-2 inhibition.
  • Benign prostatic epithelium showed rare COX-2 foci, while human prostate cancer sections were uniformly negative for COX-2.

Conclusions:

  • These findings suggest a lack of a significant role for COX-2 in prostate cancer development.
  • Further direct evidence is required to definitively establish or refute the involvement of COX-2 in prostate cancer carcinogenesis.

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