Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0596263 (carcinogenesis)
64,820 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Epidemiological, clinical, animal and laboratory studies have all provided evidence for the protective effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin, against colorectal cancer. The main established target for NSAID action is cyclooxygenase (COX) and the inducible isoform, COX-2, is up-regulated in colorectal cancer. Rat intestinal epithelial cells transfected with a COX-2 expression vector have previously been found to be resistant to butyrate-induced apoptosis. Butyrate, a by-product of dietary fibre fermentation, is known to induce differentiation and apoptosis in colorectal tumour cells in vitro. In recent years there has been considerable interest in the possible role of dietary fibre/resistant starch in the prevention of colorectal cancer. In this study we investigated whether inhibition of COX-2 with a highly selective COX-2 inhibitor (NS-398) would sensitize human colorectal carcinoma cells to the growth inhibitory effect of butyrate. HT29 and S/KS colorectal carcinoma cell lines were treated for 72 h with 2 mM butyrate and/or 10 microM NS-398. Addition of 10 microM NS-398 alone (to inhibit COX-2 activity) did not result in detectable growth inhibition in either of the cell lines. NS-398 enhanced sensitivity to the growth inhibitory effect of butyrate in HT29 cells expressing COX-2 protein. In contrast, NS-398 did not sensitize S/KS cells lacking detectable COX-2 protein and function (as determined by prostaglandin E(2) production) to the growth inhibitory effect of butyrate. In addition, we report that butyrate treatment of carcinoma (HT29) and adenoma (PC/AA/C1) cells leads to up-regulation of COX-2 protein. Thus NS-398 only appears to sensitize human colorectal carcinoma cells expressing COX-2 protein to the growth inhibitory effect of butyrate. As COX-2 is up-regulated in colorectal carcinogenesis, this could have important implications for the selective inhibition of cells expressing COX-2 protein over those lacking COX-2 protein expression and for dietary modification to be considered alongside NSAIDs in the prevention, and possibly treatment, of colorectal cancer.
Carcinogenesis 2000 Jan
PMID:A cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug enhances the growth inhibitory effect of butyrate in colorectal carcinoma cells expressing COX-2 protein: regulation of COX-2 by butyrate. 1060 36

One of the cyclooxygenase (COX) isoforms, COX-2, is overexpressed in various human cancers. In this study, we examined the gene expression levels of COX-2 in primary non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC), metastatic lymph nodes, and normal lung tissues. The expression levels of the COX-2 gene were assessed by means of the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in 76 autopsy samples (29 primary NSCLC, 29 corresponding normal lung tissues, and 9 metastatic lymph nodes). The expression levels in NSCLC (both adenocarcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas) were significantly higher than in normal lung tissues and were significantly higher in adenocarcinomas than in squamous cell carcinomas. Differences between the levels of expression of COX-2 in primary tumors and their corresponding metastatic lymph nodes in 9 adenocarcinoma patients were not significant. Our results indicate that COX-2 may be associated with carcinogenesis of NSCLC, and that it may be a target for the treatment of NSCLC.
...
PMID:Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mRNA expression levels in normal lung tissues and non-small cell lung cancers. 1066 51

A putative target for the anti-colorectal cancer action of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is the inducible isoform of cyclooxygenase (COX), COX-2. COX-2 is expressed within intestinal adenomas in murine polyposis models, but expression has been poorly characterized in human colorectal neoplasms. Therefore, we investigated the localization of the COX-2 protein in human sporadic colorectal adenomas. Immunohistochemistry for COX-2 and CD68 (a tissue macrophage marker) was performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (n = 52) and frozen, acetone-fixed (n = 6) sections of human sporadic colorectal adenomas. Forty of 52 (77%) formalin-fixed adenomas expressed immunoreactive COX-2. COX-2 was localized to superficial interstitial macrophages in 39 cases (75%) and to deep interstitial macrophages in 9 cases (17%). COX-2 staining of dysplastic epithelial cells was observed in 15 cases (29%). A logistic regression analysis identified the adenoma site (P = 0.012) and histological type (P = 0.001) as independent predictors of superficial macrophage COX-2 expression. There was no relationship between the number of macrophages within an adenoma and macrophage COX-2 expression. These results indicate that COX-2 is expressed predominantly by interstitial macrophages within human sporadic colorectal adenomas. If COX-2 does indeed play a role in the early stages of colorectal carcinogenesis in man, these data suggest COX-2-mediated paracrine signaling between the macrophages and epithelial cells within adenomas.
...
PMID:Localization of cyclooxygenase-2 in human sporadic colorectal adenomas. 1066 84

Epidemiological observations and laboratory research have suggested that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) reduce the risk of colon cancer and that the inhibition of colon carcinogenesis by NSAIDs is mediated through the modulation of prostaglandin production by rate-limiting enzymes known as cyclooxygenases (COXs). Because traditional NSAIDs inhibit both COX-1 and COX-2, these drugs induce side effects, such as gastrointestinal ulceration and renal toxicity, through the inhibition of the constitutive COX-1. Overexpression of COX-2 has been observed in colon tumors; therefore, specific inhibitors of COX-2 could serve as chemopreventive agents. Our previous study has shown that celecoxib, an inhibitor of COX-2, while sparing COX-1, inhibited azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon tumorigenesis when administered during both initiation and postinitiation stages, ie., celecoxib administered continuously before, during, and after carcinogen treatment. This study examined the dose-response effect of celecoxib when administered during the initiation and postinitiation stages. In addition, the chemopreventive effects of high-dose celecoxib administered during the promotion/progression stage of colon carcinogenesis, ie., continuous celecoxib administration beginning 14 weeks after the carcinogen treatment, was determined in male F344 rats. We also measured the steady-state levels of celecoxib in the plasma of animals given this inhibitor. Groups of 5-week-old male F344 rats were fed either a control diet or experimental diets containing 500, 1000, or 1500 ppm celecoxib. At 7 and 8 weeks of age, rats scheduled for carcinogen treatment were injected s.c. with AOM at a dose rate of 15 mg/kg body weight/week. Groups of animals destined for the promotion/ progression study and initially receiving the control diet were switched to a diet containing 1500 ppm celecoxib beginning 14 weeks after the second AOM treatment. All rats remained on their respective dietary regimens until the termination of the study, ie., 52 weeks, and were then sacrificed. Colon tumors were evaluated histopathologically. Administration of 500, 1000, or 1500 ppm celecoxib during the initiation and postinitiation stages significantly inhibited the incidence (P < 0.01 to P < 0.0001) as well as the multiplicity (P < 0.01 to P < 0.0001) of adenocarcinomas of the colon in a dose-dependent manner. Importantly, administration of 1500 ppm celecoxib during the promotion/progression stage also significantly suppressed the incidence and multiplicity of adenocarcinomas of the colon (P < 0.01). Also, administration of celecoxib to the rats during the initiation and postinitiation periods and throughout the promotion/progression stage strongly suppressed colon tumor volume (P < 0.0002 to P < 0.001). The steady-state plasma concentration of celecoxib increases somewhat with the dose. Thus, in this model system, the chemopreventive efficacy of celecoxib is dose-dependent when this COX-2 inhibitor is administered during the initiation and postinitiation periods. This study provides the first evidence that celecoxib is also very effective when it is given during the promotion/progression stage of colon carcinogenesis, indicating that the chemopreventive efficacy is achieved during the later stages of colon tumor development. This suggests that celecoxib may potentially be an effective chemopreventive agent for the secondary prevention of colon cancer in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis and sporadic polyps.
...
PMID:Chemoprevention of colon cancer by specific cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, celecoxib, administered during different stages of carcinogenesis. 1066 79

More than 40 promising agents and agent combinations are being evaluated clinically as chemopreventive drugs for major cancer targets. A few have been in vanguard, large-scale intervention trials--for example, the studies of tamoxifen and fenretinide in breast, 13-cis-retinoic acid in head and neck, vitamin E and selenium in prostate, and calcium in colon. These and other agents are currently in phase II chemoprevention trials to establish the scope of their chemopreventive efficacy and to develop intermediate biomarkers as surrogate end points for cancer incidence in future studies. In this group are fenretinide, 2-difluoromethylornithine, and oltipraz. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAID) are also in this group because of their colon cancer chemopreventive effects in clinical intervention, epidemiological, and animal studies. New agents are continually considered for development as chemopreventive drugs. Preventive strategies with antiandrogens are evolving for prostate cancer. Anti-inflammatories that selectively inhibit inducible cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 are being investigated in colon as alternatives to the NSAID, which inhibit both COX-1 and COX-2 and derive their toxicity from COX-1 inhibition. Newer retinoids with reduced toxicity, increased efficacy, or both (e.g., 9-cis-retinoic acid) are being investigated. Promising chemopreventive drugs are also being developed from dietary substances (e.g., green and black tea polyphenols, soy isoflavones, curcumin, phenethyl isothiocyanate, sulforaphane, lycopene, indole-3-carbinol, perillyl alcohol). Basic and translational research necessary to progress in chemopreventive agent development includes, for example, (1) molecular and genomic biomarkers that can be used for risk assessment and as surrogate end points in clinical studies, (2) animal carcinogenesis models that mimic human disease (including transgenic and gene knockout mice), and (3) novel agent treatment regimens (e.g., local delivery to cancer targets, agent combinations, and pharmacodynamically guided dosing).
...
PMID:Progress in cancer chemoprevention. 1066 77

Cyclooxygenase (COX)-1- and COX-2-deficient mice have unique physiological differences that have allowed investigation into the individual biological roles of the COX isoforms. In the following, the phenotypes of the two COX knockout mice are summarized, and recent studies to investigate the effects of COX deficiency on inflammatory responses and cancer susceptibility are discussed. The data suggest that both isoforms have important roles in the maintenance of physiological homeostasis and that such designations as house-keeping and/or response gene may not be entirely accurate. Furthermore, data from COX-deficient mice indicate that both isoforms can contribute to the inflammatory response and that both isoforms have significant roles in carcinogenesis.
...
PMID:Cyclooxygenase-deficient mice. A summary of their characteristics and susceptibilities to inflammation and carcinogenesis. 1066 82

Cyclooxygenase (COX) catalyzes the formation of prostaglandins (PG) from arachidonic acid. A large body of evidence has accumulated to suggest that COX-2, the inducible form of COX, is important in carcinogenesis. In this study, we determined whether (1) COX-2 was overexpressed in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC) and whether (2) retinoids, a class of chemopreventive agents, blocked epidermal growth factor (EGF)-mediated activation of COX-2 expression. Levels of COX-2 mRNA were determined in 15 cases of HNSCC and 10 cases of normal oral mucosa. Nearly a 100-fold increase in amounts of COX-2 mRNA was detected in HNSCC. By immunoblot analysis, COX-2 protein was detected in 6 of 6 cases of HNSCC but was undetectable in normal mucosa. Because retinoids protect against oral cavity cancer, we investigated whether retinoids could suppress EGF-mediated induction of COX-2 in cultured oral squamous carcinoma cells. Treatment with EGF led to increased levels of COX-2 mRNA, COX-2 protein, and synthesis of PG. These effects were suppressed by a variety of retinoids. Based on the results of this study, it will be important to establish whether newly developed selective COX-2 inhibitors are useful in preventing or treating HNSCC. Moreover, the anticancer properties of retinoids may be due, in part, to inhibition of COX-2 expression. Combining a retinoid with a selective COX-2 inhibitor may be more effective than either agent alone in preventing cancer of the upper aerodigestive tract.
...
PMID:Inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 expression. An approach to preventing head and neck cancer. 1066 83

Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 levels are elevated in several types of human cancer tissues. Nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) inhibit both the COX-1 and COX-2 protein, the two enzymes that convert arachidonic acids to prostaglandins. Regular use of such NSAIDs significantly reduces the risk and spread of some cancers. The objective of this study was to elucidate the molecular pathology of neoplasms that overexpress COX-2. Epidemiological data and clinical studies were analyzed and compared with results of studies of human tumor tissues, animal models, and cultured tumor cells. COX-2, but not COX-1, is highly expressed in human colon carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus, and skin cancer. COX-2 is inducible by oncogenes ras and scr, interleukin-1, hypoxia, benzo[a]pyrene, ultraviolet light, epidermal growth factor, transforming growth factor beta, and tumor necrosis factor alpha. Dexamethasone, antioxidants, and tumor-suppressor protein p53 suppress COX-2 expression. COX-2 synthesizes prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) which stimulates bcl-2 and inhibits apoptosis, and induces interleukin-6 (IL-6) which enhances haptoglobin synthesis. PGE2 is associated with tumor metastases, IL-6 with cancer cell invasion, and haptoglobin with implantation and angiogenesis. Drastic reduction in polyp number results from COX-2 gene knockout as well as from selective COX-2 inhibition in a mouse model of human familial adenomatous polyposis. Nonselective NSAIDs, for instance aspirin, and selective COX-2 inhibitors such as celecoxib (SC-58635) and NS-398 suppress azoxymethane-induced colon carcinogenesis in rats. Aspirin, indomethacin, and ibuprofen decrease cultured lung cancer cell proliferation. Selective inhibition of COX-2 is preferable to nonselective inhibition. It reduces cancer cell proliferation, induces cancer cell apoptosis, and spares COX-1-induced cytoprotection of the gastrointestinal tract.
...
PMID:Molecular pathology of cyclooxygenase-2 in neoplasia. 1067 79

Gastric adenocarcinoma is one of the most common malignancies in the world, and yet little is known about its molecular process of development and progression. Recent studies have suggested that ingestion of nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs reduces the risk of colon cancer, presumably by inhibiting the cyclooxygenase (COX) enzyme. COX-2, one isoform of the COX enzyme, is the rate-limiting enzyme in prostaglandin synthesis, and the function of this enzyme is thought to relate to inflammatory processes and carcinogenesis. To understand the role of COX enzyme in gastric cancer, we measured COX-2 expression in 104 human gastric carcinoma tissues by immunohistochemical analysis. We obtained tissue specimens from 104 surgically resected gastric adenocarcinoma patients. We performed immunohistochemical stain for human COX-2 with polyclonal antibody in gastric carcinoma. After curative resection and extensive lymph node dissection, all patients received adjuvant chemotherapy containing 5-fluorouracil. Expression of COX-2 showed cytoplasmic staining, not only in cancer cells but also in precancerous lesions such as metaplastic and adenomatous cells. We confirmed up-regulation of COX-2 in gastric cancer tissues compared with normal paired mucosa using Western blot analysis. There was no correlation between clinicopathological characteristics of gastric cancer patients and intensity of COX-2 protein expression. This study indicates that COX-2 protein over-expression may contribute to an early event of gastric cancer development, and it further suggests that selective inhibition of COX-2 may provide a chemopreventive effect against gastric carcinogenesis.
...
PMID:Increased expression of cyclooxygenase-2 protein in human gastric carcinoma. 1069 May 33

Numerous investigations have shown that COX-2 is a participant in the pathway of colon carcinogenesis, especially when mutation of the APC tumor suppressor is the initiating event. Moreover, it seems that the amount of COX-2 is important, since there is a correlation between its level of expression and the size of the tumors and their propensity to invade underlying tissue [40]. Inhibiting COX-2 at an early stage blocks the development of malignant tumors, causes pre-malignant tumors to regress and may improve the outcome once the cancer is completely established. This set of findings seems to link very strongly with the traditional observation that chronic inflammation is a precursor to a variety of types of cancer. By this formulation, inflammatory stimuli increase COX-2 and the downstream events that it induces promote tumor formation. All of these finding suggest that existing NSAIDs will be useful for the prophylaxis of colon cancer and polyps and we eagerly await clinical investigations that will generate guidelines that suggest those individuals that are the most appropriate recipients for such therapy. Although this field has progressed rapidly in the last few years, many important questions remain.
...
PMID:Cyclooxygenase-2 and carcinogenesis. 1072 29


<< Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next >>