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Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2): a molecular target in prostate cancer

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Abstract

Epidemiological studies provided the first evidence that COX may be involved in the pathogenesis of cancer. In the process of carcinogenesis and in the route of intracellular signalling during carcinogenesis, COX-2 expression may be a universal phenomenon. In general, COX-2 is up-regulated throughout the tumorigenic process, from early hyperplasia to metastatic disease. COX-2 has been reported to be constitutively overexpressed in a variety of malignancies and is frequently constitutively elevated in prostate carcinoma. COX-2 was consistently overexpressed in premalignant lesions such as prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, and carcinoma. Cases are described with evolution of proliferative inflammatory atrophy of the prostate and prostate carcinoma. The increase of evidence implicating COX-2 in cancer has stimulated clinical trials to investigate the efficacy of selective COX-2 inhibitors in individuals at risk for human cancer. Regarding prostate carcinoma there is much direct or indirect evidence to support the use of COX-2 inhibitors in this disease. Trials using these drugs in familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and other patients with a high risk of colorectal carcinoma are ongoing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Oncology Research Unit, CHU Juan Canalejo, A Coruña, Spain

    G. Aparicio Gallego & S. Díaz Prado

  2. Medical Oncology Service, Central Hospital, Asturias, Oviedo, Spain

    P. Jiménez Fonseca

  3. Medical Oncology Service, CHU Juan Canalejo, A Coruña, Spain

    R. García Campelo & L. M. Antón Aparicio

  4. Medical Oncology Service, Guadalajara University Hospital, Guadalajara, Spain

    J. Cassinello Espinosa

  5. Medical Oncology Service C.H.U. Juan Canalejo, Materno Infantil Hospital, C/As Xubias, s/n, 15006, A Coruña, Spain

    L. M. Antón Aparicio

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  1. G. Aparicio Gallego
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  2. S. Díaz Prado
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  3. P. Jiménez Fonseca
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Correspondence to L. M. Antón Aparicio.

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Supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Pfizer.

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Aparicio Gallego, G., Díaz Prado, S., Jiménez Fonseca, P. et al. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2): a molecular target in prostate cancer. Clin Transl Oncol 9, 694–702 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-007-0126-0

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