Cox and mesothelioma: an overview.
Cyclooxygenases catalyze the rate limiting step in the production of prostanoids. Accumulating data demonstrate that overexpression of these enzymes, and in particular of cyclooxygenases-2, promotes multiple events involved in tumorigenesis; in addition, numerous studies show that inhibition of cyclooxygenases-2 can delay or prevent certain forms of cancer. Malignant mesothelioma is a lethal pleural, peritoneal and pericardial neoplasia that actually lacks valid therapies and in which cyclooxygenases-2 is recognized as an important adverse prognostic factor. Hence, there is an increasing interest in the development of new treatments based on cyclooxygenases-2 inhibitors, to prolong survival and even potentially cure this neoplasia.
Cardillo
I
I
SAFU Department, Center for Experimental Research, Regina Elena Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.
Spugnini
E P
EP
Verdina
A
A
Galati
R
R
Citro
G
G
Baldi
A
A
D000818:Animals; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000209:etiology; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human