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Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Prostaglandin Extraction and Analysis in Caenorhabditis elegans
Published on: June 25, 2013
Microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 and 5-lipoxygenase: potential drug targets in cancer
1Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Division of Physiological Chemistry II, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Abstract:
There is strong evidence for a role of prostaglandin (PG)E(2) in cancer cell proliferation and tumour development. In PGE(2) biosynthesis, cyclooxygenases (COX-1/2) convert arachidonic acid to PGH(2), which can be isomerized to PGE(2) by PGE synthases, including microsomal PGE synthase-1 (MPGES-1). Data describing genetic deletions of MPGES-1 are reviewed. The results suggest that MPGES-1 is an alternative therapeutic target for cancer cells and tumours that express this enzyme. Several compounds that target COX-2 or MPGES-1 also inhibit 5-lipoxygenase. This may be advantageous for treatment of some forms of cancer.
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