title: Identification of MAP kinase pathways involved in COX-2 expression following photofrin photodynamic therapy.
abstract: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) using the photosensitizer Photofrin is approved for the clinical treatment of solid tumors. PDT causes cytotoxic oxidative stress, but additionally induces prosurvival molecules such as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Combining PDT with COX-2 inhibitors increases the efficacy of in vivo treatment. Understanding mechanisms leading to prosurvival molecule induction is relevant to the design of more effective treatments. Using COX-2 promoter constructs, transcription factor-binding assays, identification of protein kinase activation, and inhibitors of transcription factor binding we were able to determine that COX-2 expression following PDT involves the p38 MAP kinase pathway.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pediatrics and Radiation Oncology, Keck School of Medicine, The Saban Research Institute, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luna
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferrario
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Charles J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Gomer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015153:Blotting, Western; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics*; D017323:Dihematoporphyrin Ether / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008156:Luciferases / Q000378:metabolism; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D051379:Mice; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D014157:Transcription Factors; D012313:RNA; D017323:Dihematoporphyrin Ether; D008156:Luciferases; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases