title: Expression analysis of the prostaglandin E2 production pathway in human pancreatic cancers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is strong evidence for an important role of cyclooxygenase (COX) 2 and COX-2-generated PGE2 during pancreatic tumorigenesis. Cyclooxygenase 2 has therefore become a potential chemotherapeutic target for pancreatic cancer. However, recent studies raised concerns regarding the safety of selective COX-2 inhibitors. Although the benefits of COX-2 inhibition may eventually outweigh the associated cardiovascular risks, there are a number of alternative targets for inhibiting the formation of PGE2 in human tumors that may prove less harmful to the patient. This study aimed at analyzing the expression of various proteins involved in the generation of PGE2 in human pancreatic cancers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analyses demonstrated overexpression of cytoplasmic phospholipase A2, COX-2, cytoplasmic prostaglandin E synthase, and microsomal prostaglandin E synthases 1 and 2 in most human pancreatic cancers when compared with matched normal pancreas. Immunohistochemistry revealed expression of these proteins predominantly by pancreatic cancer cells. Variable expression of these proteins was also confirmed in several human pancreatic cancer cell lines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our studies demonstrated for the first time that various proteins involved in the generation of PGE2 are overexpressed in human pancreatic cancers. These proteins may represent potentially novel targets for the therapy of pancreatic cancers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Hirshberg Laboratories for Pancreatic Cancer Research, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Sascha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hasan
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Satake
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Funahashi
authors.forename: Eliane
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Angst
authors.forename: Vay Liang W
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Go
authors.forename: Howard A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Reber
authors.forename: Oscar J
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Hines
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Eibl
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D021441:Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D054467:Phospholipases A2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000071876:Prostaglandin-E Synthases; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D054467:Phospholipases A2; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases; D000071876:Prostaglandin-E Synthases; D015232:Dinoprostone