title: Prostaglandin E(2) pathway in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) is involved in malignant growth. The objective was to study the PGE(2) pathway in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Expression of cyclooxygenase (COX) and PGE-synthase isoenzymes, and PGE-receptors was determined in biopsies from 83 patients with HNSCC by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Expression of COX-2 and cytosolic-PGE-synthase was significantly increased, about 4-fold and 2.5-fold, respectively, in tumors versus paired nontumoral mucosa (n = 34). EP-1 was the only PGE-receptor significantly overexpressed in tumor samples. Expression of COX-1 correlated with mPGES-2 and COX-2 correlated with mPGES-1 (n = 83).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  COX-2, functionally coordinated with mPGES-1, is likely to be the limiting enzyme in PGE(2) biosynthesis in HNSCC. The biological meaning of cPGES/p23 overexpression in HNSCC is not yet clear. Our results support the notion that mPGES-1, cPGES, and EP-1 could be the targets for the development of specific PGE(2)-modifier drugs for HNSCC treatment that could avoid negative side effects of COX-2 selective inhibitors.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Angiology, Vascular Biology and Inflammation, Institute of Research, Hospital Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Camacho
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: León
authors.forename: María-Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Fernández-Figueras
authors.forename: Miquel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Quer
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vila
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D053898:Biosynthetic Pathways; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D008861:Microsomes / Q000378:metabolism; D000071876:Prostaglandin-E Synthases; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D007527:Isoenzymes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases; C000605862:PTGES protein, human; C000605863:PTGES2 protein, human; D000071876:Prostaglandin-E Synthases; D015232:Dinoprostone