title: The role of cyclooxygenase-2 in the pathogenesis of skin cancer.
abstract: Prostaglandin synthesis occurs via the coordinate action of a phospholipase that liberates arachidonic acid from membrane phospholipids and a cyclooxygenase (COX) that converts the free arachidonic acid to prostaglandins. Several lines of evidence suggest that prostaglandins play a role in carcinogenesis. Two isoforms of COX have been described. COX-2 is highly regulated and induced by inflammation while COX-1 is considered primarily a housekeeping form. The acute up-regulation of COX-2 by UV radiation suggests that it may contribute to photocarcinogenesis in the same way that COX-2 has recently been shown to contribute to colon cancer.
authors.affiliation: arbr01@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Alexandra R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Brecher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051379:Mice; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011453:Prostaglandins; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases