Journal of Environmental Pathology, Toxicology and Oncology

ISSN for PRINT: 0731-8898

For Online Access

Best Paper Award Selection - Editorial Board Site

2002, Volume21

Issue 2

124 pages

Issue price - $160.00

Edgar M. Moran, MD
University of California, Irvine, Department of Veterans Administration Medical Center, 5901 East 7th Street, Long Beach, California 90822, USA

It is well known that about 70% of cancer cases are due to environmental, dietary, or lifestyle factors. Accordingly, these cases may be avoided by appropriate modifications. In addition, active chemoprevention has become a major interventional approach following the epidemiological observation of a beneficial effect of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in colon cancer prevention. This is chiefly due to the inhibition of the cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes. The COX enzymatic system includes two isoenzymes, COX-1 and COX-2, that convert arachidonic acid to prostaglandins. COX-1 is constitutively expressed and synthesizes cytoprotective prostaglandins in the gastrointestinal tract. COX-2 is inducible by the oncogenes ras and scr and other cytokines; it is overexpressed in human cancer cells in which it stimulates cellular division and angiogenesis and inhibits apoptosis. NSAIDs restore apoptosis and decrease tumor mitogenesis and angiogenesis. Most cancer cells have been found to exhibit overexpression of COX-2.

Download article, 9 pages

Article price - $35.00

<< Previous article   Next article >>