Prostaglandin E(2) pathway in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
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.
Camacho
Mercedes
M
Laboratory of Angiology, Vascular Biology and Inflammation, Institute of Research, Hospital Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain.
León
Xavier
X
Fernández-Figueras
María-Teresa
MT
Quer
Miquel
M
Vila
Luis
L
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
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