Cyclooxygenase-2 and chemoprevention of breast cancer.
This article discusses the role of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in the aetiology and progression of breast cancer. Renewed interest in chemoprevention using non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) has come from observations that regular NSAID use is associated with a reduced incidence of some cancers including that of the breast. There is an increasing body of evidence supporting a role for COX-2 in breast cancer development and progression via effects on angiogenesis and apoptosis as well as via effects on intratumoural aromatase. New selective inhibitors of COX-2 are currently licensed for use in the treatment of arthritis and more recently in the chemoprevention of familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). Large clinical chemoprevention studies with COX-2 inhibitors are already underway in colorectal cancer. Their role in breast cancer prevention and treatment has yet to be fully characterised, but merits further investigation.
Davies
G L S
GL
Department of Academic Biochemistry, Royal Marsden Hospital, Fulham Road, London SW3 6JJ, UK. dgiles@icr.ac.uk
D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001141:Aromatase / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism*
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D001141:Aromatase; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases