Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) - A Therapeutic Target in Liver Cancer?

Title: Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) - A Therapeutic Target in Liver Cancer?

Volume: 13 Issue: 32

Author(s): Marco Breinig, Peter Schirmacher and Michael Andre Kern

Affiliation:

Keywords: prostaglandins, NSAIDs, Growth Factor Signaling, immune responses, proliferation

Abstract: Targeting COX-2, a key-enzyme of the prostaglandin metabolism, for the treatment of cancer has been in the focus of researchers for about a decade. However, only recently has this topic been related to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HCC is one of the most common cancers and a growing health problem worldwide. At present, only few promising treatment options are available, accentuating the urgent need for novel therapeutic approaches. Since the first report of COX-2 overexpression in HCC, several findings support the notion that selective COX-2 inhibition proves to be beneficial in this malignancy. This review focuses on recent discoveries regarding the pro-tumorigenic potential of COX-2 in HCC and the functional effects of COX-2 inhibition on molecular mechanisms of this malignancy. Of clinical interest, promising data from in vivo experiments and case studies suggest a beneficial effect of COX-2 inhibitors for HCC- therapy. Detailed analysis of COX-2- activated pathways and related mechanisms may enable the evaluation and design of even more specific and combinatorial treatment approaches in the future.

Cite this article as:

Breinig Marco, Schirmacher Peter and Kern Andre Michael, Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) - A Therapeutic Target in Liver Cancer?, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2007; 13 (32) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161207782360627