Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0027651 (tumor)
685,946 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Recently, an inducible microsomal human prostaglandin E synthase (mPGES) was identified. This enzyme converts the cyclooxygenase (COX) product prostaglandin (PG) H(2) to PGE(2), an eicosanoid that has been linked to carcinogenesis. Increased amounts of PGE(2) have been observed in many tumor types including colorectal adenomas and cancers. To further elucidate the mechanism responsible for increased levels of PGE(2) in colorectal tumors, we determined the amounts of mPGES and COX-2 in 18 paired samples (tumor and adjacent normal) of colorectal cancer. With immunoblot analysis, mPGES was overexpressed in 83% of colorectal cancers. COX-2 was also commonly up-regulated in these tumors; marked differences in the extent of up-regulation of mPGES and COX-2 were observed in individual tumors. Immunohistochemistry revealed increased mPGES immunoreactivity in neoplastic cells in both colorectal adenomas and cancers compared with adjacent normal colonic epithelium. Cell culture was used to investigate the regulation of mPGES and COX-2. Chenodeoxycholate markedly induced COX-2 but not mPGES in colorectal cancer cells. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha induced both mPGES and COX-2, but the time course and magnitude of induction differed. As reported previously for COX-2, overexpressing Ras caused a several-fold increase in mPGES promoter activity. Taken together, our results suggest that overexpression of mPGES in addition to COX-2 contributes to increased amounts of PGE(2) in colorectal adenomas and cancer. The mechanisms controlling the expression of these two enzymes are not identical.
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PMID:Inducible microsomal prostaglandin E synthase is overexpressed in colorectal adenomas and cancer. 1175 89

Cyclooxygenase, involved in tumor growth and angiogenesis, converts arachidonic acid to prostaglandin (PG)H(2), which is immediately converted to bioactive prostanoids including PGE(2), PGD(2), thromboxane (TX)A(2) and PGI(2). To test the hypothesis that changes in the prostanoid profile alter cancer growth, we transduced the retroviral vectors carrying TXA(2) synthase cDNA or PGI(2) synthase cDNA to colon-26 adenocarcinoma cells and subsequently inoculated each transformant to syngeneic BALB/c mice. Tumors derived from TXA(2) synthase transformants grew faster (280%, day 8, versus null-vector control; P < 0.05) and showed more abundant vasculature (204%, versus null-vector control; P < 0.01), whereas tumors from PGI(2) synthase transformants presented opposite effects. These effects by the transgenes were reversed by administration of specific inhibitors. These results suggest that the profile of downstream metabolites of cyclooxygenase in cancer cells can be a determinant for tumor development.
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PMID:Gene transfer of thromboxane A(2) synthase and prostaglandin I(2) synthase antithetically altered tumor angiogenesis and tumor growth. 1178 60

Recent studies have suggested that prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) subtype receptors (EP) are involved in cellular proliferation and tumor development. We studied the role of EP(1) and EP(4) PGE(2) subtype receptor antagonists AH-6809 and AH-23848B, respectively, in serum-induced 3T6 fibroblast proliferation. This was significantly reduced in a dose-dependent manner (IC(50) approximately 100 and approximately 30 microM, respectively) to an almost complete inhibition, without any cytotoxic effect. However, the effect of each antagonist on 3T6 cell cycle progression clearly differed. Whereas the EP(1) antagonist increased the G(0)/G(1) population, the EP(4) antagonist brought about an accumulation of cells in early S phase. These effects were associated with a decrease in cyclin D and E levels in AH-6809-treated 3T6 cells and lower cyclin A levels in AH-23848B-treated fibroblasts with respect to control cells. The G(0)/G(1) accumulation caused by AH-6809 seems to be intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) dependent, because a 6-h 1 microM thapsigargin treatment allowed G(0)/G(1)-arrested cells to enter S phase. Similarly, treatment with 20 microM forskolin for 6 h allowed S-phase and G(2)/M progression of AH-23848B-treated cells. This study shows that the inhibitory effect of the EP(1) and EP(4) antagonists on serum-induced 3T6 fibroblast growth is due to their effect at various levels of the cell cycle machinery, suggesting that PGE(2) interaction with its different subtype receptors regulates progression through the cell cycle by modulating cAMP and [Ca(2+)](i).
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PMID:Role of EP(1) and EP(4) PGE(2) subtype receptors in serum-induced 3T6 fibroblast cycle progression and proliferation. 1178 39

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are antitumorigenic in humans as well as in animal models of intestinal neoplasia, such as the adenomatous polyposis coli (Min/+) (Apc(Min/+)) mouse. NSAIDs inhibit cyclooxygenase (COX) isozymes, which are responsible for the committed step in prostaglandin biosynthesis, and this has been considered the primary mechanism by which NSAIDs exert their antitumorigenic effects. However, mounting evidence suggests the existence of COX-independent mechanisms. In the present study, we attempted to clarify this issue by treating Apc(Min/+) mice bearing established tumors with NSAIDs (piroxicam and sulindac, 0.5 and 0.6 mg/mouse/day, respectively) for 6 days and concomitantly bypassing COX inhibition by treatment with the E prostaglandin (EP) receptor agonists 16,16-dimethyl-prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) and 17-phenyl-trinor-PGE(2) (10 microg each, three times daily) administered via gavage and/or i.p. routes. Treatment with piroxicam and sulindac resulted in 95% and 52% fewer tumors, respectively, and a higher ratio of apoptosis:mitosis in tumors from sulindac-treated mice as compared with controls. These effects were attenuated by concomitant EP receptor agonist treatment, suggesting PGE(2) is important in the maintenance of tumor integrity. Immunological sequestration of PGE(2) with an anti-PGE(2) monoclonal antibody likewise resulted in 33% fewer tumors in Apc(Min/+) mice relative to untreated controls, additionally substantiating a role for PGE(2) in tumorigenesis. The EP receptor subtype EP1 mediates the effects of PGE(2) by increasing intracellular calcium levels ([Ca(2+)](i)), whereas antagonism of EP1 has been shown to attenuate tumorigenesis in Apc(Min/+) mice. We demonstrate that [Ca(2+)](i) is significantly elevated in tumors of Apc(Min/+) mice relative to the adjacent normal-appearing mucosa. Furthermore, treatment with piroxicam results in significantly lower [Ca(2+)](i) in tumors, and this effect is attenuated by concomitant treatment with the EP1/EP3 receptor agonist 17-phenyl-trinor-PGE(2). Overall, our results suggest that NSAIDs exert their antitumorigenic effects, in part, via interference with PGE(2) biosynthesis, and these effects may be mediated through changes in intracellular calcium levels.
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PMID:Prostaglandin E(2) protects intestinal tumors from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced regression in Apc(Min/+) mice. 1180 88

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is expressed within neovascular structures that support many human cancers. Inhibition of COX-2 by celecoxib delays tumor growth and metastasis in xenograft tumor models as well as suppresses basic fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2)-induced neovascularization of the rodent cornea. The present studies were undertaken to evaluate possible mechanisms of the antiangiogenic and anticancer effects of celecoxib. Prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) and thromboxane B(2) (TXB(2)) were increased in rat corneas implanted with slow-release pellets containing FGF-2 (338.6 ng of PGE(2)/g and 17.53 ng of TXB(2)/g) compared with normal rat corneas (63.1 ng of PGE(2)/g and 2.0 ng of TXB(2)/g). Celecoxib at 30 mg/kg/day p.o. inhibited angiogenesis (78.6%) and prostaglandin production by 78% for PGE(2) (72.65 ng/g) and 68% for TXB(2) (5.55 ng/g). Decreased prostaglandin production in corneas was associated with a 2.5-fold cellular increase in apoptosis and a 65% decrease in proliferation. Similar reductions in proliferation were observed in neovascular stroma (65-70%) of celecoxib-treated (dietary 160 ppm/day) xenograft tumors as well as in tumor cells (50-75%). Apoptosis was also increased in the tumor cells (2.2-3.0-fold) in response to celecoxib. Thus, the antitumor activity of celecoxib may be attributable, at least in part, to a direct effect on host stromal elements, such as the angiogenic vasculature.
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PMID:Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition by celecoxib reduces proliferation and induces apoptosis in angiogenic endothelial cells in vivo. 1183 May 9

Inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX) activity decreases eicosanoid production and prevents lung cancer in animal models. Prostaglandin (PG) I(2) (PGI(2), prostacyclin) is a PGH(2) metabolite with anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, and antimetastatic properties. The instability of PGI(2) has limited its evaluation in animal models of cancer. We hypothesized that pulmonary overexpression of prostacyclin synthase may prevent the development of murine lung tumors. Transgenic mice with selective pulmonary prostacyclin synthase overexpression were exposed to two distinct carcinogenesis protocols: an initiation/promotion model and a simple carcinogen model. The transgenic mice exhibited significantly reduced lung tumor multiplicity (tumor number) in proportion to transgene expression, a dose-response effect. Moreover, the highest expressing mice demonstrated reduced tumor incidence. To investigate the mechanism for protection, we evaluated PG levels and inflammatory responses. At the time of sacrifice following one carcinogenesis model, the transgenics exhibited only an increase in 6-keto-PGF(1alpha), not a decrease in PGE(2). Thus, elevated PGI(2) levels and not decreased PGE(2) levels appear to be necessary for the chemopreventive effects. When exposed to a single dose of butylated hydroxytoluene, transgenic mice exhibited a survival advantage; however, reduction in alveolar inflammatory response was not observed. These studies demonstrate that manipulation of PG metabolism downstream from COX produces even more profound lung cancer reduction than COX inhibition alone and could be the basis for new approaches to understanding the pathogenesis and prevention of lung cancer.
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PMID:Manipulation of pulmonary prostacyclin synthase expression prevents murine lung cancer. 1183 May 27

Active research is being conducted to unravel the cellular mechanisms mediating the anti-tumorigenic effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and their association with cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibition. The majority of NSAIDs inhibit either COX-1, COX-2, or both and exert their anti-COX, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumorigenic effects in vivo in a parallel dose-dependent manner. The effects are seen at NSAID blood plasma concentrations of 0.1-5 microM. Significantly, the same compounds tested at the same concentrations in incubations with cultured tumor cells in vitro similarly inhibit COX activities but are devoid of anti-proliferative activity. Yet, at much higher concentrations (100-20,000 microM), these same NSAIDs do exert anti-proliferative effects in vitro due to apparent non-specific toxic effects, as evidenced by disruption of ion transport and mitochondrial oxidation in some cells. A small group of NSAIDs (e.g. sulindac) do not inhibit COX enzymes significantly but can reduce the synthesis of prostanoids by alternate mechanisms. One such mechanism is inhibition of agonist-stimulated phospholipase-mediated release of arachidonic acid from phospholipids leading to depressed synthesis of prostanoids, especially prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)). Another group of non-COX inhibitors are the R-isomers of NSAIDs, based on the structure of 2-arylpropionic acid. These compounds exert anti-proliferative effects in vivo, acting by an as yet undetermined mechanism. A possible caveat in these data is an R to S chiral transformation in vivo that would render the R-isomer effect as being due to the S-isomer generated in vivo from it. Demonstration of minimal or no R to S inversion under the experimental in vivo conditions employed is, therefore, a necessary control in these studies. The overall body of data supports the conclusion that, for COX-inhibiting NSAIDs, their anti-tumorigenic effect in vivo is due to, and depends upon, inhibition of tumor COX enzymes, primarily COX-2. The cellular effects seen when adding high concentrations of NSAIDs to tumor cells cultured in vitro and the mechanisms proposed to mediate these effects may not have substantial relevance to the mechanisms that mediate the effects of NSAIDs in vivo.
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PMID:Is inhibition of cyclooxygenase required for the anti-tumorigenic effects of nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)? In vitro versus in vivo results and the relevance for the prevention and treatment of cancer. 1185 85

Aromatase (estrogen synthase) is the cytochrome P450 enzyme complex that converts C(19) androgens to C(18) estrogens. Aromatase activity has been demonstrated in breast tissue in vitro, and expression of aromatase is highest in or near breast tumor sites. Thus, local regulation of aromatase by both endogenous factors as well as exogenous medicinal agents will influence the levels of estrogen available for breast cancer growth. The prostaglandin PGE(2) increases intracellular cAMP levels and stimulates estrogen biosynthesis, and our recent studies have shown a strong linear association between CYP19 expression and the sum of cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in breast cancer specimens. Knowledge of the signaling pathways that regulate the expression and enzyme activity of aromatase and cyclooxygenases (COXs) in stromal and epithelial breast cells will aid in understanding the interrelationships of these two enzyme systems and potentially identify novel targets for regulation. The effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor-beta (TGFbeta), and tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate (TPA) on aromatase and COXs were studied in primary cultures of normal human adipose stromal cells and in cell cultures of normal immortalized human breast epithelial cells MCF-10F, estrogen-responsive human breast cancer cells MCF-7, and estrogen-unresponsive human breast cancer cells MDA-MB-231. Levels of the constitutive COX isozyme, COX-1, were not altered by the various treatments in the cell systems studied. In breast adenocarcinoma cells, EGF and TGFbeta did not alter COX-2 levels at 24h, while TPA induced COX-2 levels by 75% in MDA-MB-231 cells. EGF and TPA in MCF-7 cells significantly increased aromatase activity while TGFbeta did not. In contrast to MCF-7 cells, TGFbeta and TPA significantly increased activity in MDA-MB-231 cells, while only a modest increase with EGF was observed. Untreated normal adipose stromal cells exhibited high basal levels of COX-1 but low to undetectable levels of COX-2. A dramatic induction of COX-2 was observed in the adipose stromal cells by EGF, TGFbeta, and TPA. Aromatase enzyme activity in normal adipose stromal cells was significantly increased by EGF, TGFbeta and TPA after 24h of treatment. In summary, the results of this investigation on the effects of several paracrine and/or autocrine signaling pathways in the regulation of expression of aromatase, COX-1, and COX-2 in breast cells has identified more complex relationships. Overall, elevated levels of these factors in the breast cancer tissue microenvironment can result in increased aromatase activity (and subsequent increased estrogen biosynthesis) via autocrine mechanisms in breast epithelial cells and via paracrine mechanisms in breast stromal cells. Furthermore, increased secretion of prostaglandins such as PGE(2) from constitutive COX-1 and inducible COX-2 isozymes present in epithelial and stromal cell compartments will result in both autocrine and paracrine actions to increase aromatase expression in the tissues.
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PMID:Signaling pathways regulating aromatase and cyclooxygenases in normal and malignant breast cells. 1189 4

The metabolic NO pathway, catalyzed by the enzyme NO synthase in macrophages, is a key defense element against viruses and tumors. However, arginase is an other enzyme able to metabolize the substrate L-arginine, and the two enzymes are alternatively regulated by Th1 and Th2 cytokines in murine macrophages. Marek's disease is characterized by strong immunosuppression and development of T-cell lymphomas in chickens. Inoculation of the very virulent strain of MDV RB-1B induced strong and long-lasting arginase macrophage-dependent activity, which was inhibited by L-norvaline in vitro, but induced low NO production in monocytes and splenocytes from highly susceptible B(13)/B(13) chickens. By contrast, in B(21)/B(21) chickens genetically resistant to tumor development, RB-1B induced a weak and transient increase in arginase activity and strong NO production. The vaccinal HVT strain did not induce any arginase activity in monocytes or splenocytes. Moreover, vaccination with HVT prevented tumor appearance after RB-1B challenge and increase in arginase activity, but favored NO production in susceptible chickens. Differential expression of NO synthase and arginase was modulated in chicken macrophages, with IFN-gamma and LPS being strong inducers of both, depending on the type of macrophage, and TGF-beta 1 and PGE(2) stimulating only arginase activity. This increase in arginase activity in macrophages from chickens inoculated with Marek's disease virus might thus be due to a direct effect of the virus on macrophages, possibly through viral products, or to indirect effects on the cytokine balance.
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PMID:Resistance and susceptibility to Marek's disease: nitric oxide synthase/arginase activity balance. 1190 Sep 57

An association of gallbladder carcinoma with cholelithiasis suggests that chronic inflammation may modulate tumorigenesis and/or progression of the carcinoma. An enhanced expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is observed frequently in advanced carcinomas of gastrointestinal tracts, which in turn suggests that potentiated arachidonate metabolism may play a crucial role in tumor biology. In the present study, the expression levels of COX-2 and prostaglandin E receptor subtypes were determined in 16 cases of gallbladder carcinomas of different depths of invasion (pT(1) 3, pT(2) 2, pT(3) 4, and pT(4) 7) to determine the role of arachidonate metabolism in tumor growth and progression. The mRNA levels of COX-2 were increased significantly in pT(3) and pT(4) carcinomas compared with the levels in pT(1) and pT(2) carcinomas. Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization revealed the existence of COX-2 mRNA and protein in both the cancerous epithelia and adjacent stroma of pT(1)-pT(4) carcinomas. Only in pT(3) and pT(4) carcinomas was intense expression of COX-2 observed in the adjacent stroma. The tissue concentration of PGE(2) was significantly increased in pT(3) and pT(4) carcinomas. The mRNAs of PGE receptor subtypes EP(2), EP(3), and EP(4) were amplified in pT(1)-pT(4) gallbladder carcinomas, in which their mRNAs and EP(4) protein were expressed mostly in the cancerous epithelia. Treatment with a specific EP(4) agonist, as well as PGE(2) but not EP(2) and EP(3) agonists, up-regulated the expression of c-fos, an induced growth response gene, and increased colony formation. In advanced gallbladder carcinoma, enhanced expression of COX-2 is observed in the adjacent stroma rather than in the cancerous epithelia, and the stroma is a potent source of PG synthesis. In epithelial-stromal interactions, the increased PGE(2) synthesis in the adjacent stroma and its biological effect via EP(4) on the carcinoma cells may contribute to tumor growth and progression of gallbladder carcinoma.
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PMID:Expressions of cyclooxygenase-2 and prostaglandin E-receptors in carcinoma of the gallbladder: crucial role of arachidonate metabolism in tumor growth and progression. 1194 28


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