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Query: UMLS:C0596263 (carcinogenesis)
64,820 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

In the third millennium preventive medicine is becoming a corner stone in our concept of health. Colorectal cancer (CRC) prevention, in particular, has become an important goal for health providers, physicians and the general public. CRC fits the criteria of a disease suitable for chemopreventive interventions. It is a prevalent disease that is associated with considerable mortality and morbidity rates, with more than 1,000,000 new cases and 500,000 deaths expected, worldwide, in 2004. CRC has a natural history of transition from precursor to malignant lesion that spans, on average, 15-20 years, providing a window of opportunity for effective interventions and prevention. A pre-malignant precursor lesion (i.e., adenoma) usually precedes cancer, and helps to identify a subset of the population that is at increased risk of harbouring and developing cancer. Science and technology have evolved to a point where we are able to use our knowledge of cancer biology to identify individuals at risk and interrupt the process of malignant transformation at the level of the pre-cancerous lesion. Recent progress in molecular biology and pharmacology enhances the likelihood that cancer prevention will increasingly rely on chemoprevention. Chemoprevention, a new emerging science, means the use of agents to inhibit, delay or reverse carcinogenesis. Recent observations suggest a number of potential targets for chemoprevention. Many agents have potential benefit, but only modest chemopreventive efficacy in clinical trials. There is much evidence suggesting an inverse relationship between aspirin or NSAIDs consumption and CRC incidence and mortality. However, NSAID consumption is not problem-free, as 1997 data showed 107,000 hospitalisations and 16,500 deaths due to NSAIDs consumption in the US alone. Therefore, although chemoprevention of CRC is already possible, drugs that have more acceptable side-effect profiles than the currently available NSAIDs are required. COX-2-specific inhibitors, which have an improved safety profile, as compared to traditional NSAIDs that inhibit both the COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes, seem to be well suited drug candidates for CRC prevention. The inhibition of the growth of pre-cancerous and cancerous cells without affecting normal cells is the ultimate aim of cancer treatment and is of particular importance in chemoprevention studies, which may be long term in nature, involve healthy subjects and minimal toxicity. Cancer prevention is certain to be a significant focus of research and intervention in the coming years, propelled by the realization that we will be able to identify both individuals susceptible to specific cancers as well as the molecular targets that can alter or stop the carcinogenesis process. Pharmacology and genetics are collaborating to develop new chemoprevention agents designed to affect molecular targets linked to specific pre-malignant or predisposing conditions.
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PMID:Chemoprevention of colorectal cancer: ready for routine use? 1597 46

There is now substantial evidence for a role for cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)-mediated prostaglandin (PG) signalling during carcinogenesis in a number of tissues and selective COX-2 inhibitors (coxibs) were considered attractive candidate chemoprevention agents. However, recent concerns over the toxicity of systemic selective COX-2 inhibition and the realisation that COX-1 may also contribute to carcinogenesis have cast some doubt on COX-2 inhibition as a safe and effective chemoprevention strategy. This review will describe the available evidence relating to the known benefits (preventive efficacy in rodent tumorigenesis models and limited human data from small randomised, controlled trials and epidemiological studies) and risks (cardiovascular and renal toxicity) of coxib therapy for cancer chemoprevention. Potential, alternative strategies for inhibition of COX-PG signalling that minimise or avoid systemic selective COX-2 inhibition will also be discussed.
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PMID:Cyclooxygenase-2: how good is it as a target for cancer chemoprevention? 1600 78

Cyclooxygenases catalyze the initial, rate-limiting steps of prostaglandin synthesis from arachidonic acid. Two isoforms of this enzyme exist in mammalian and avian species: COX-1 and COX-2. COX-1 is constitutively expressed and is the major isoform of gastrointestinal tissue. COX-2 is induced in response to inflammatory stimuli. COX-2 has been implicated in carcinogenesis of several neoplasms. Furthermore, COX-2 over-expression has been noted in many solid tumours and has been correlated with a worse prognosis in colorectal cancer, non-small-cell lung cancer, mesothelioma and gastric cancer. In this review, the most recent findings on the mechanisms by which COX-2 promote tumorigenesis are discussed, with particular emphasis on the studies involving spontaneous canine neoplasms.
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PMID:COX-2 overexpression in canine tumors: potential therapeutic targets in oncology. 1613 11

Cyclooxygenases (COX)-1 and COX-2 catalyse the key steps of prostaglandin biosynthesis and are the major target for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. In general, COX-1 but not COX-2 is expressed in healthy tissues of adults. After incision or acute irritant dermatitis, COX-2 is induced transiently. The development of UV-induced erythema and edema as well as of skin tumours is significantly governed by COX-2 activity. Squamous cell carcinomas and actinic keratoses are prominent examples of epithelial tumours with COX-2 overexpression in the tumour parenchyma, inflammatory infiltrate and associated vessels. According to multi-stage carcinogenesis studies in mouse skin and experiments with transgenic mice, there is a causal relationship between aberrant COX-2 expression and activity in the epithelium and tumour promotion and tumour progression. The transgenic overexpression of COX-2 causes an "autopromoted" skin phenotype, i.e. it dramatically sensitizes the tissue for the development of squamous cell carcinomas. Vice versa, the genetic ablation of COX-2, as well as of COX-1, results in a reduced tumour burden in murine skin. A major mechanism by which COX-2 contributes to epidermal tumour formation seems to be the disturbance of terminal keratinocyte differentiation. Because of these data, selective COX-2 inhibitors are ranked among the most promising agents for skin cancer prevention and therapy.
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PMID:[Cyclooxygenases in the skin]. 1627 29

Prostaglandin G/H synthases (PGHS), commonly referred to as cyclooxygenases (COX-1 and COX-2), catalyze a key step in the synthesis of biologically active prostaglandins (PGs), the conversion of arachidonic acid (AA) into prostaglandin H(2) (PGH(2)). PGs have important functions in a variety of physiologic and pathologic settings, including inflammation, cardiovascular homeostasis, reproduction, and carcinogenesis. However, an evaluation of prostaglandin function in early development has been difficult due to the maternal contribution of prostaglandins from the uterus. The emergence of zebrafish as a model system has begun to provide some insights into the roles of this signaling cascade during vertebrate development. In zebrafish, COX-1 derived prostaglandins are required for two distinct stages of development, namely during gastrulation and segmentation. During gastrulation, PGE(2) signaling promotes cell motility, without altering the cell shape or directional migration of gastrulating cells. During segmentation, COX-1 signaling is also required for posterior mesoderm development, including the formation of vascular tube structures, angiogenesis of intersomitic vessels, and pronephros morphogenesis. We propose that deciphering the role for prostaglandin signaling in zebrafish development could yield insight and ultimately address the mechanistic details underlying various disease processes that result from perturbation of this pathway.
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PMID:Fishing for prostanoids: deciphering the developmental functions of cyclooxygenase-derived prostaglandins. 1631 Jan 77

There is evidence that aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be protective agents against cancer in the gastrointestinal tract. These effects are particularly well documented for the colon and rectum. Some epidemiological and experimental studies have suggested that aspirin could also be a chemopreventive agent against breast cancer. We investigated the effects of the aspirin metabolite, salicylate (SA), on 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-DNA adduct formation as well as on the expression of the enzymes involved in the carcinogen bioactivation pathway, in particular cytochrome P450 1A (CYP1A) and cyclooxygenases (COX-1 and COX-2). The effects of the test drug were examined in both the human mammary carcinoma cell line, MCF-7, and mammary cells derived from DMBA-induced rat mammary tumours (RMTCs). In this study, we also reported the effects of SA on cell growth and viability in breast cancer cells (BCCs). The results demonstrated that DMBA-DNA adduct formation in both cancer cell lines was inhibited by SA at concentrations of > or = 2.5 mM. CYP1A was undetectable in RMTCs while CYP1A induction by beta-naphthoflavone in MCF-7 cells was significantly inhibited by SA in a concentration-dependent manner. Aspirin did not affect COX-1 expression in either of the BCCs. COX-2 was not detected in MCF-7 cells, but its expression in RMTCs was inhibited by SA treatment, which also significantly reduced BCC growth, but failed to cause cell death by necrosis or apoptosis. These data suggest that inhibition of DMBA-DNA adduct formation may contribute to aspirin breast cancer chemopreventive action and indicate that this drug can act in the first stage of carcinogenesis.
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PMID:The aspirin metabolite, salicylate, inhibits 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-DNA adduct formation in breast cancer cells. 1659 29

The objective of the present study was to determine the influence of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibition by Celecoxib (CLX) in humans with distal colorectal adenocarcinoma (CRC) on serum and tumor levels of progastrin and gastrin and serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-8, TNF-alpha). In addition, the effects of this CLX treatment on tumor and adjacent mucosa expression of gastrin, its receptors (CCK2), and COX-1 and COX-2, as well as protein expression of the active form of nuclear factor kappa B (NFkappa B) and the apoptotic-related proteins Bcl-2 and survivin, have been examined. Ten distal CRC patients were examined twice, once before and then after 14-day treatment with CLX (200 mg bid). Large biopsy samples were taken from the tumor and intact mucosa 10 cm above the tumor. For comparison, 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled and treated with CLX as CRC patients. Serum levels of IL-8 and TNF-alpha were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and serum levels of amidated gastrins and progastrin, by specific radioimmunoassay. The gene or protein expressions of progastrin, gastrin, CCK2, COX-1, COX-2, Bcl-2, and survivin as well as NFkappa B were determined by RT-PCR or Western blot in biopsy samples of tumor and intact mucosa of CRC patients. Serum IL-8 and TNF-alpha values were severalfold higher in CRC patients than in controls. The increase in serum proinflammatory cytokines was accompanied by increased expression of the active form of NFkappa B. Serum progastrin levels were also found to be significantly higher in CRC than in controls. Treatment of CRC with CLX resulted in a significant decrease in serum levels of progastrin and this was accompanied by an increment in tumor expression of COX-2 with a concomitant reduction in gastrin, Bcl-2, survivin, and NFkappa B expression. We conclude that (1) distal CRC patients show significantly higher serum progastrin levels than matched healthy controls, confirming that this hormone may be implicated in rectal carcinogenesis; (2) CRC patients exhibit significantly higher serum levels of IL-8 and TNF-alpha than healthy controls, probably reflecting more widespread inflammatory reaction in the colonic mucosa in CRC; (3) gastrin, COX-2, Bcl-2, survivin, and NFkappa B were overexpressed in CRC tumor compared to intact mucosa, but treatment with CLX significantly reduced serum levels of progastrin and IL-8 and TNF-alpha, which could mediate the up-regulation of COX-2 in CRC; and (4) CLX also enhanced expression of COX-2, while inhibiting the expression of gastrin, Bcl-2, survivin, and NFkappa B, suggesting that COX-2 inhibition might be useful in chemoprevention against CRC, possibly due to suppression of the antiapoptotic proteins and reduction in progastrin-induced and NFkappa B-promoted tumor growth.
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PMID:Effects of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition on serum and tumor gastrins and expression of apoptosis-related proteins in colorectal cancer. 1661 3

To investigate the prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) biosynthetic mechanism in bladder carcinogenesis, we established Wistar rat model of bladder papilloma and transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) induced by 5% terephthalic acid (TPA) treatment. Then, the mRNA level of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2), cyclooxygenases (COX)-1 and -2, membrane-bound PGE2 synthases (mPGES)-1 and -2 was detected using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Immunoblotting was applied to detect the expression of COX-2 protein. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was determined by immunohistochemistry. In addition, the level of PGE2 was measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Bladder papilloma (100%, 8/8) was examined in rats after 24-week treatment, and bladder TCC (80%, 16/20) was found after 48-week treatment. Histopathological changes were not found in control group rats. The incidence of bladder papilloma and TCC in test group was significantly higher than that in control group (P<0.01). The mRNA levels of cPLA2, COX-2 and mPGES-1 in the bladder papilloma and TCC were significantly higher than those in normal bladder (P<0.01), while the mRNA levels of COX-1 and mPGES-2 in TCC were unchanged compared with normal bladder. Bladder TCC exhibited a substantial expression of COX-2 protein. On the contrary, normal bladder tissue barely expresses COX-2 protein. PCNA labeling index (LI) and the level of PGE2 in bladder papilloma are much higher than those in normal bladder (P<0.01), but lower than those in bladder TCC (P<0.05). In conclusion, increasing PGE2 level via cPLA2--COX-2--mPGES-1 pathway may play an important role in rat bladder carcinogenesis. PGE2 may be a biomarker for the development of bladder TCC. cPLA2 and mPGES-1 may be targets for development of novel chemoprevention strategies for bladder TCC.
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PMID:Elevated prostaglandin E2 level via cPLA2--COX-2--mPGES-1 pathway involved in bladder carcinogenesis induced by terephthalic acid-calculi in Wistar rats. 1662 93

Human lung adenocarcinoma cells, A549, possess the capacity of expressing both cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and NAD+-linked 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-PGDH). Resting cells express little COX-2 but significant levels of 15-PGDH. Interleukin (IL) 1beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) or phorbol ester [phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)] induced the expression of COX-2, as revealed by western blot analysis. Combination of PMA and IL-1beta or TNF-alpha induced synergistically the expression of COX-2. Interestingly, cytokines and cytokine plus PMA-induced expression of COX-2 were accompanied by a downregulation of 15-PGDH. This was evident from both the western blot analysis and activity assay of 15-PGDH. It appears that the higher the expression of COX-2 was induced, the lower the expression of 15-PGDH was found. This was further supported by the observation that overexpression of COX-2 but not COX-1 by adenovirus-mediated approach led to a decrease in 15-PGDH expression, indicating the specificity of COX-2. Furthermore, downregulation of the IL-1beta-induced expression of COX-2 by silencing RNA (siRNA) approach resulted in an increase in the expression of 15-PGDH by COX-2-siRNA but not by COX-1-siRNA, indicating that it was indeed the expression of COX-2 attenuating the expression of 15-PGDH. The IL-1beta-induced reduction of the expression of 15-PGDH was shown not to be mediated by COX-2-derived products since the presence of COX-2 inhibitors did not block the attenuation of the expression of 15-PGDH. Exogenous PGE2 also did not induce the reduction of the expression of 15-PGDH. However, overexpression of 15-PGDH by transfection with recombinant plasmid encoding 15-PGDH or adenovirus-mediated approach attenuated IL-1beta-induced expression of COX-2. On the contrary, downregulation of 15-PGDH expression by 15-PGDH-siRNA or 15-PGDH-antisense approach resulted in an increase in IL-1beta-induced expression of COX-2 but not that of COX-1. In fact, it was further observed that A549 clones expressing different degrees of 15-PGDH showed also different levels of COX-2 expression after IL-1beta induction. The levels of IL-1beta-induced COX-2 expression appeared to correlate inversely with those of 15-PGDH expression in the cells. These results support the contention that COX-2 and 15-PGDH are regulated reciprocally in A549 cells.
Carcinogenesis 2006 Nov
PMID:Reciprocal regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 and 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase expression in A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells. 1663 68

Cyclooxygenases (COX) 1 and 2 are the key enzymes of prostaglandin biosynthesis. Like in many tissues, in adult skin COX-1 is a constitutive 'housekeeping' enzyme, while COX-2 is induced transiently in stress situations such as tissue damage and regeneration. In human skin carcinomas and corresponding early-stage cancer lesions, permanent COX-2 expression and activation is a consistent feature. Knockout and various transgenic approaches and pharmacologic studies show strong evidence for a cause-and-effect relationship between the aberrant COX-2 activation and tumor formation. In skin epidermis, keratin 5 promoter-driven overexpression of COX-2 caused hyperplasia and dysplasia, and sensitized skin for carcinogenesis. Therefore, this model offers the unique possibility of identifying COX-2-dependent and prostaglandin-mediated molecular pathways leading to the formation and malignant progression of early-stage cancer lesions.
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PMID:Differential protein expression in the epidermis of wild-type and COX-2 transgenic mice. 1668 47


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