Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0699790 (colon cancer)
28,837 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

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.
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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.
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PMID:Cyclooxygenase-2 and carcinogenesis. 1072 29

Evidence derived from several lines of investigation suggest that prostaglandins, metabolites of arachidonic acid, play an important role in colon cancer development. Elevated prostaglandin levels are found in colon cancers and their precursor lesions, adenomatous polyps. Agents such as aspirin and NSAIDs, which inhibit the generation of these arachidonic acid metabolites, are associated with a decreased risk of developing or dying from colon cancer. Both the amount of the agent used and the duration of exposure seem to be important variables. In animals, NSAIDs are among the most potent agents discovered for the reduction of tumors in both genetic and carcinogen-induced models. Data from human trials also suggests that NSAIDs such as sulindac can reduce the size and number of polyps in individuals with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). In parallel with the above findings, it is now understood that at least two forms of the enzyme responsible for the metabolism of arachidonic acid exist. One of these forms, COX-1, is generally considered a constitutive form that is responsible for maintaining normal physiologic function. Inhibition of COX-1 leads to many of the clinically undesirable side effects associated with NSAID use. The other known form of the enzyme, COX-2, is an inducible form that is found in increased levels in inflammatory states and in many cancers and their associated pre-malignant lesions. Levels of COX-2 are increased by exposure to mitogens and growth factors. Agents that specifically inhibit COX-2 are now in clinical development and appear to be well-tolerated and effective for the treatment of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The potential for use of COX-2 specific NSAIDs in the prevention of colon cancer is suggested from the distribution of COX-2 in adenomatous polyps and colon cancer and the effectiveness of these agents in genetic and carcinogen-induced animal models of colon cancer. The development of these agents for the prevention of colon cancer will be discussed.
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PMID:COX-2 and colon cancer: potential targets for chemoprevention. 1076 21

Genetic knockout or pharmacological inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 decreases the number and size of adenomas in mouse models of familial adenomatous polyposis. Epidemiological and clinical studies in humans indicate that the entire class of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that inhibit both COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes are promising colon cancer chemopreventive agents. We used the Apc mutant Min mouse model to test combinations of agents that might maximize preventive benefit with minimal toxicity because they act via different mechanisms. Min mice (n = 144) were exposed to low doses of the nonselective COX inhibitor piroxicam and the ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) inhibitor difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), beginning at the time they were weaned and continuing throughout the duration of the experiment. Piroxicam at 12, 25, and 50 ppm in the diet caused dose-dependent decreases in the number of tumors in the middle and distal portions of the small intestine. This decrease in tumor multiplicity was associated with a striking decrease in the size of those tumors that did grow out. In contrast, none of the doses of piroxicam alone decreased tumor multiplicity in the proximal portion of the intestine (duodenum). Exposure to DFMO (0.5 or 1.0% in water) caused a dose-dependent decrease in tumor multiplicity in the middle and distal portions of the small intestine. However, this decreased multiplicity was not associated with a striking decrease in the size of the tumors. Combined treatment of mice with piroxicam plus DFMO was much more effective than either agent alone and resulted in a significant number of mice totally free of any intestinal adenomas (P < 0.001), in contrast to the 100% incidence and high multiplicity in control Min mice. In addition to this profound effectiveness in reducing tumor number, the few residual tumors in mice treated with the combined drugs were markedly smaller in size than tumors that arose from control Min mice. These experiments suggest that selective COX-2 inhibition combined with ODC inhibition is a very promising approach for colon cancer prevention. These COX-2 and ODC inhibitor drugs were not overtly toxic at the doses used when administered to mice after weaning. However, when treatment was begun in utero, the Mendelian expected progeny ratio of 1:1 that we routinely obtained in untreated control litters was no longer observed. Apc(min)/+ progeny of pregnant dams treated with piroxicam and/or DFMO were reduced in number and their ratio to Apc+/+ progeny was decreased to approximately 0.28:1. Thus, these agents are effective against adenomas that have homozygous mutation of the APC gene and also select against fetuses bearing a heterozygous mutation in the APC gene.
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PMID:Chemopreventive efficacy of combined piroxicam and difluoromethylornithine treatment of Apc mutant Min mouse adenomas, and selective toxicity against Apc mutant embryos. 1076 73

The cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 enzyme is responsible for increased prostaglandin formation in inflammatory states and is the major target of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Normally COX-2 expression is tightly regulated, however, constitutive overexpression plays a key role in colon carcinogenesis. To understand the mechanisms controlling COX-2 expression, we examined the ability of the 3'-untranslated region of the COX-2 mRNA to regulate post-transcriptional events. When fused to a reporter gene, the 3'-untranslated region mediated rapid mRNA decay (t(1/2) = 30 min), which was comparable to endogenous COX-2 mRNA turnover in serum-induced fibroblasts treated with actinomycin D or dexamethasone. Deletion analysis demonstrated that a conserved 116-nucleotide AU-rich sequence element (ARE) mediated mRNA degradation. In transiently transfected cells, this region inhibited protein synthesis approximately 3-fold. However, this inhibition did not occur through changes in mRNA stability since mRNA half-life and steady-state mRNA levels were unchanged. RNA mobility shift assays demonstrated a complex of cytoplasmic proteins that bound specifically to the ARE, and UV cross-linking studies identified proteins ranging from 90 to 35 kDa. Fractionation of the cytosol showed differential association of ARE-binding proteins to polysomes and S130 fractions. We propose that these factors influence expression at a post-transcriptional step and, if dysregulated, may increase COX-2 protein as detected in colon cancer.
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PMID:Post-transcriptional control of cyclooxygenase-2 gene expression. The role of the 3'-untranslated region. 1076 97

As we have shown previously [Tardieu,D., Jaeg,J.P., Cadet,J., Embvani,E., Corpet,D.E. and Petit,C. (1998) Cancer Lett, 134, 1-5], a 48-h treatment of 6% dextran sodium sulphate (DSS) in drinking water led to a reproducible 2-fold increase of the mutagenic oxidative lesion 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodGuo) in colonic mucosa DNA of rats in vivo. The aim of this study was to test the effect of nimesulide, a preferential COX-2 inhibitor, on the DSS-induced 8-oxodGuo increase. We show that nimesulide when administered orally, simultaneously with DSS at 5 mg/kg/day, not only totally prevents 8-oxodGuo formation but also suppresses the 5-fold increase of superoxide induced by DSS in the colonic mucosa. This was measured by in vivo formazan blue precipitation (P < 0.01 in the Wilcoxon test). Moreover, nimesulide enhances apoptosis by approximately 30% as compared with the already high level induced by DSS treatment (P < 0.01). It is suggested that the significant increase in mutagenic oxidative DNA damage, produced by mild acute colonic inflammation, could be important in the initiation of colon cancer in both animals and man. These effects may explain at least partly the well-documented protective action towards colon cancer by preferential COX-2 inhibitors, either xenobiotics such as nimesulide or natural nutrients.
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PMID:The COX-2 inhibitor nimesulide suppresses superoxide and 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine formation, and stimulates apoptosis in mucosa during early colonic inflammation in rats. 1078 20

The efficacy of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is considered to be a result of their inhibitory effect on cyclooxygenase (COX) activity. Here, we report that flufenamic acid shows two opposing effects on COX-2 expression; it induces COX-2 expression in the colon cancer cell line (HT-29) and macrophage cell line (RAW 264.7); conversely, it inhibits tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha)- or lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced COX-2 expression. This inhibition correlates with the suppression of TNFalpha- or LPS-induced NFkappaB activation by flufenamic acid. The inhibitor of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase, p38, or NFkappaB does not affect the NSAID-induced COX-2 expression. These results suggest that the NSAID-induced COX-2 expression is not mediated through activation of NFkappaB and mitogen-activated protein kinases. An activator of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, 15-deoxy-Delta(12,14)-prostaglandin J(2), also induces COX-2 expression and inhibits TNFalpha-induced NFkappaB activation and COX-2 expression. Flufenamic acid and 15-deoxy-Delta(12,14)-prostaglandin J(2) also inhibit LPS-induced expression of inducible form of nitric-oxide synthase and interleukin-1alpha in RAW 264.7 cells. Together, these results indicate that the NSAIDs inhibit mitogen-induced COX-2 expression while they induce COX-2 expression. Furthermore, the results suggest that the anti-inflammatory effects of flufenamic acid and some other NSAIDs are due to their inhibitory action on the mitogen-induced expression of COX-2 and downstream markers of inflammation in addition to their inhibitory effect on COX enzyme activity.
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PMID:Two opposing effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on the expression of the inducible cyclooxygenase. Mediation through different signaling pathways. 1086 99

Cyclooxygenase (COX) is a key enzyme in the synthesis of prostaglandins from arachidonic acid. Much evidence, including that from epidemiological and experimental studies, suggests that the inducible form of COX, COX-2, is increased in colon tumor tissues and is involved in colon cancer tumorigenesis. To determine the significance of COX-2 in tumorigenesis in the urinary bladder, the expression of COX-2 in transitional cell carcinoma and preneoplastic lesions of the bladder was examined. Tumor specificity of COX-2 immunoblotting was 100% in 12 of 35 (34%) tumors, but in 0 of the 10 normal urothelia samples. COX-2 expression was significantly correlated with tumor stage in 9 of 20 (45%) muscle-invasive (pT2-4) tumors and in 3 of 15 (20%) superficially invasive (pT1) tumors (P < 0.05). Immunohistochemical examination revealed that 13 of 14 (93%) samples of carcinoma in situ (CIS), which may be the precursor of muscle-invasive-type tumors, expressed COX-2, whereas 10 of 21 (48%) samples of dysplasia, which may be the precursor of both superficially invasive and muscle-invasive tumors, expressed COX-2. From the expression profile of COX-2 in these various urothelia, it is suggested that COX-2 is involved in the development of transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder, especially that of muscle-invasive tumors via CIS. Furthermore, COX-2 may be a therapeutic target for CIS because of the high expression rate of COX-2 in CIS lesions.
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PMID:Cyclooxygenase-2 expression is up-regulated in transitional cell carcinoma and its preneoplastic lesions in the human urinary bladder. 1087 95

The prostaglandin endoperoxide H synthases-1 and 2 (PGHS-1 and PGHS-2; also cyclooxygenases-1 and 2, COX-1 and COX-2) catalyze the committed step in prostaglandin synthesis. PGHS-1 and 2 are of particular interest because they are the major targets of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) including aspirin, ibuprofen, and the new COX-2 inhibitors. Inhibition of the PGHSs with NSAIDs acutely reduces inflammation, pain, and fever, and long-term use of these drugs reduces fatal thrombotic events, as well as the development of colon cancer and Alzheimer's disease. In this review, we examine how the structures of these enzymes relate mechanistically to cyclooxygenase and peroxidase catalysis, and how differences in the structure of PGHS-2 confer on this isozyme differential sensitivity to COX-2 inhibitors. We further examine the evidence for independent signaling by PGHS-1 and PGHS-2, and the complex mechanisms for regulation of PGHS-2 gene expression.
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PMID:Cyclooxygenases: structural, cellular, and molecular biology. 1096 56

Epidemiological studies suggest an inverse relationship between the intake of dietary fiber, particularly fiber from cereal grains, and colon cancer risk. Animal model assays have demonstrated that the protective effects of dietary fiber on colon cancer development depend on the nature and source of the fiber. Wheat bran (WB) appears to inhibit colon tumorigenesis more consistently than do oat bran or corn bran. This study was designed to determine whether specific WB fractions such as WB fiber, WB lipids, or phytic acid differentially affect colon carcinogenesis in a well-established colon cancer model. In addition, the modulating effect of specific fractions of WB on the activities of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2 enzymes were assessed in colon tumors as those have been shown to play a role in tumor progression. At 5 weeks of age, groups of male F344 rats were assigned to one of six diets: a high-fat diet containing 10% WB (control diet) and experimental high-fat diets containing 10% dephytinized WB (WB-P), 10% defatted WB (WB-F), 10% dephytinized and defatted WB (WB-PF), 10% WB-PF fortified with 2% bran oil and/or with 0.4% phytate. At 7 weeks of age, all eats except those in the vehicle-treated groups were given two weekly s.c. injections of azoxymethane (AOM) at a dose rate of 15 mg/kg body weight/week. They continued to receive their respective diets until 50 weeks after carcinogen treatment and were then killed. Colon tumors were analyzed for iNOS, COX-1, and COX-2 expression and enzymatic activities. Colon tumors were evaluated histopathologically and classified as adenomas and adenocarcinomas. We found that removal of phytic acid (WB-P) or lipids (WB-F) from WB had no significant effect on colon tumor incidence (% animals with tumors) or multiplicity (tumors/ animal), whereas removal of both phytate and lipids from WB (WB-PF) significantly increased colon tumor multiplicity and volume. Interestingly, WB-PF fortified with excess bran oil or with bran oil plus phytate significantly inhibited colon tumor incidence, multiplicity, and volume; but supplementation of WB-PF with phytate alone had no significant effect on colon tumorigenesis in rats suggesting that lipid fraction of WB possesses tumor-inhibitory properties. Moreover, feeding WB-PF diet significantly increased iNOS, total COX and COX-2 enzyme activities, and iNOS protein expression in colon tumors as compared with wheat bran control diet. Feeding the WB-PF that was fortified with excess bran oil alone or with bran oil plus phytate significantly suppressed the activities of iNOS and COX-2 as well as the expression of iNOS and COX-2 in colon tumors compared with that in rats fed the WB diet or WB-PF diet. The study demonstrates for the first time that the lipid fraction of wheat bran has strong colon tumor inhibitor properties. The exact mechanism(s) by which the lipid fraction of WB inhibits colon carcinogenesis in addition to alteration of iNOS and COX activities remains to be elucidated. Additional studies are warranted to identify biologically active constituents of lipid fraction of WB and their relative role in colon tumor inhibition.
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PMID:Preventive potential of wheat bran fractions against experimental colon carcinogenesis: implications for human colon cancer prevention. 1098 88


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