title: Cyclooxygenase as a target in lung cancer.
abstract: Preclinical studies suggest that cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 may be involved in the molecular pathogenesis of some types of lung cancer. Most of the available studies point to its involvement in non-small cell lung cancer. Survival of patients with non-small cell lung cancer expressing high levels of COX-2 is markedly reduced. Treatment of humans with the selective COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib augments the antitumor effects of chemotherapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. COX-2 has been shown to regulate some aspects of tumor-associated angiogenesis. Most of the results we have published point to effects on the regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor. However, prostaglandins derived from COX-2 affect other signaling pathways as well, such as the epidermal growth factor and its receptor. Others have recently shown that non-small cell lung cancer exhibits a COX-2 downstream enzyme expression pattern that is altered in lung tumor cells and tumor-supplying vessels. Therefore, COX-2 and prostaglandins may have a major impact on lung tumor progression and tumor-associated inflammation. Clinical trials currently underway are exploring the potential of targeting COX-2 in lung cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Cancer Biology, The Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
authors.forename: Joanne R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Raymond N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: DuBois
mesh_terms: D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000494:pharmacology; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011453:Prostaglandins; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases