Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 26, 2026

Spatial and Temporal Control of Murine Melanoma Initiation from Mutant Melanocyte Stem Cells
06:09

Spatial and Temporal Control of Murine Melanoma Initiation from Mutant Melanocyte Stem Cells

Published on: June 7, 2019

9.7K

Microsomal PGE2 synthase-1 regulates melanoma cell survival and associates with melanoma disease progression

Sun-Hee Kim1, Yuuri Hashimoto1, Sung-Nam Cho2

  • 1Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.

Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research
|January 24, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Targeting microsomal prostaglandin E2 synthase-1 (mPGES1) shows promise for melanoma treatment. Inhibiting mPGES1 reduces tumor growth and increases apoptosis, suggesting its potential as a prognostic and therapeutic target.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) are implicated in melanoma progression.
  • Microsomal prostaglandin E2 synthase-1 (mPGES1) is a key enzyme in PGE2 synthesis and a potential therapeutic target due to toxicity of COX inhibitors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of mPGES1 in melanoma progression and its potential as a therapeutic target.
  • To explore the relationship between mPGES1, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and patient survival.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of mPGES1 protein expression in human melanoma tissue microarrays (TMAs) correlated with clinical stage and patient survival.
  • Investigation of the interplay between iNOS and mPGES1 in melanoma cells.
  • Evaluation of an mPGES1 inhibitor (CAY10526) and siRNA in vitro and in melanoma xenograft models.

Main Results:

  • mPGES1 expression increased with melanoma clinical stage and was associated with reduced survival in Stage III melanoma.
  • iNOS was highly expressed in melanoma with high mPGES1 levels, and iNOS-mediated nitric oxide (NO) enhanced mPGES1 expression and PGE2 production.
  • Inhibition of mPGES1 using CAY10526 or siRNA reduced melanoma cell survival and increased apoptosis; CAY10526 suppressed tumor growth in vivo.

Conclusions:

  • mPGES1 has significant prognostic and predictive value in melanoma.
  • Targeting mPGES1 represents a promising therapeutic strategy for improving melanoma treatment outcomes.
Keywords:
cell survivalinducible nitric oxide synthaseinflammationmelanomamicrosomal PGE2 synthase-1prostaglandin E2

More Related Videos

A 3D Organotypic Melanoma Spheroid Skin Model08:49

A 3D Organotypic Melanoma Spheroid Skin Model

Published on: May 18, 2018

16.8K
Pharmacologic Induction of Epidermal Melanin and Protection Against Sunburn in a Humanized Mouse Model12:37

Pharmacologic Induction of Epidermal Melanin and Protection Against Sunburn in a Humanized Mouse Model

Published on: September 7, 2013

18.9K

Related Concept Videos

Abnormal Proliferation02:23

Abnormal Proliferation

Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the...
5.4K
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
5.1K
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns (non-coding regions of a gene) or intergenic regions (stretches of DNA present between genes). Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself, forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA...
4.2K
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After...
24.6K