title: The effect of nimesulide, a selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, on Ets-1 and Ets-2 expression in head and neck cancer cell lines.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The protooncogenes Ets-1 and Ets-2 are involved in carcinogenesis of different tumors. Nimesulide, a selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor, has antiproliferative effects on tumor cells. The question arises whether nimesulide influences Ets-1 and Ets-2 synthesis in head and neck tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Expression of Ets-1 and Ets-2 was analyzed in tumor tissues by immunohistochemistry. The influence of nimesulide and an extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) inhibitor on cell proliferation of two head and neck cancer cell lines and Ets-1 and Ets-2 expression was determined by automated cell counting and Western blotting, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immunohistochemistry showed a high expression of Ets-1 and Ets-2 in tumor tissues. In both cell lines, Ets-1 and Ets-2 expression were reduced after 24 and 48 hours by nimesulide.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both Ets-1 and Ets-2 are overexpressed in head and neck cancer specimens. Inhibition of Ets-1 and Ets-2 expression in head and neck cancer cell lines by nimesulide might explain the proapoptotic property of this COX-2 inhibitor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Gürtel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lamm
authors.forename: Laurenz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vormittag
authors.forename: Dritan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Turhani
authors.forename: Boban M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Erovic
authors.forename: Cornelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Czembirek
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eder-Czembirek
authors.forename: Dietmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thurnher
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D050784:Proto-Oncogene Protein c-ets-1 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D050787:Proto-Oncogene Protein c-ets-2 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; C494041:ETS1 protein, human; D005419:Flavonoids; D050784:Proto-Oncogene Protein c-ets-1; D050787:Proto-Oncogene Protein c-ets-2; D013449:Sulfonamides; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases; C093973:2-(2-amino-3-methoxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one; C012655:nimesulide