New insights into the functions of Cox-2 in skin and esophageal malignancies

Abstract

Cancer: Inflammatory enzyme linked to skin and esophageal tumors Drugs that block a pro-inflammatory enzyme implicated in cancer initiation and progression could help suppress the development of skin and esophageal cancers that arise from abnormal squamous cells (skin cells and cells lining the respiratory and digestive tracts). In a review article, Hyeongsun Moon from the University of California, Davis, USA, and colleagues discuss experimental evidence from genetically engineered mouse models demonstrating that expression of an enzyme called cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) is critical to the transformation of stem and progenitor cells in the skin and esophagus into cancer cells. Cox-2 is already the target of many drugs approved for treating inflammatory conditions such as arthritis. The preclinical data suggest that the same medications, or agents directed at mediators of Cox-2 signaling, may help tamp down the inflammation that can spur tumor-prone cells into turning malignant.