TY - JOUR
T1 - Role of Cyclooxygenase-2 in the Development and Treatment of Oesophageal Adenocarcinoma
AU - Buskens, C. J.
AU - Ristimäki, A.
AU - Offerhaus, G. J.A.
AU - Richel, D. J.
AU - Van Lanschot, J. J.B.
PY - 2003/12/1
Y1 - 2003/12/1
N2 - Background: Various studies suggest that aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are promising anticancer agents. Epidemiological studies have found that long-term use of NSAIDs is associated with a reduced incidence of colorectal, gastric and oesophageal cancers, while experimental and clinical studies have demonstrated that treatment with NSAIDs causes a statistically significant reduction in both the number and the size of polyps in familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) patients. Methods: In this review, the mechanisms by which NSAIDs exert their chemopreventive and antineoplastic effects are described. Results: Although the precise anticancer actions of NSAIDs are not fully explained, they probably involve inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX), which is the rate-limiting enzyme in the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandins. Two isoforms of this enzyme (COX-1 and COX-2) have been identified. COX-1 is constitutively expressed and considered to be a housekeeping gene, while COX-2 is not usually detectable in normal tissues, but can be readily induced in processes like inflammation, reproduction and carcinogenesis. The mechanisms by which COX-2 is thought to be involved in the carcinogenesis include resisting apoptosis, increasing cell proliferation, stimulating angiogenesis and modulating the invasive properties of cancer cells. Conclusion: This report reviews the mechanisms by which COX-2 can contribute to carcinogenesis, its role in prognosis, and the possible place of selective COX-2 inhibitors in the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal malignancies, focusing particularly on oesophageal cancer.
AB - Background: Various studies suggest that aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are promising anticancer agents. Epidemiological studies have found that long-term use of NSAIDs is associated with a reduced incidence of colorectal, gastric and oesophageal cancers, while experimental and clinical studies have demonstrated that treatment with NSAIDs causes a statistically significant reduction in both the number and the size of polyps in familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) patients. Methods: In this review, the mechanisms by which NSAIDs exert their chemopreventive and antineoplastic effects are described. Results: Although the precise anticancer actions of NSAIDs are not fully explained, they probably involve inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX), which is the rate-limiting enzyme in the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandins. Two isoforms of this enzyme (COX-1 and COX-2) have been identified. COX-1 is constitutively expressed and considered to be a housekeeping gene, while COX-2 is not usually detectable in normal tissues, but can be readily induced in processes like inflammation, reproduction and carcinogenesis. The mechanisms by which COX-2 is thought to be involved in the carcinogenesis include resisting apoptosis, increasing cell proliferation, stimulating angiogenesis and modulating the invasive properties of cancer cells. Conclusion: This report reviews the mechanisms by which COX-2 can contribute to carcinogenesis, its role in prognosis, and the possible place of selective COX-2 inhibitors in the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal malignancies, focusing particularly on oesophageal cancer.
KW - Cyclooxygenase-2
KW - Oesophageal carcinoma
KW - Selective COX-2 inhibitors
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=1642456625&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 14743889
AN - SCOPUS:1642456625
SN - 0085-5928
VL - 38
SP - 87
EP - 93
JO - Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, Supplement
JF - Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, Supplement
IS - 239
ER -