The role of cyclooxygenase-2 and prostaglandins in colon cancer

Prostaglandins Other Lipid Mediat. 2007 Jan;82(1-4):147-54. doi: 10.1016/j.prostaglandins.2006.05.026. Epub 2006 Sep 1.

Abstract

The temporal association between loss of function of the tumor suppressor adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) and overexpression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) has been demonstrated in vivo and has led to the hypothesis that APC regulates COX-2 expression. This could potentially occur through a variety of mechanisms including the well-characterized ability of APC to negatively regulate Wnt signaling and decrease expression of target genes. However, recent findings suggest that the products of COX-2 elicit effects that occur upstream of the beta-catenin/TCF/LEF pathway. This review will focus on the regulation of COX-2 by APC and the interplay between COX-2 and the Wnt signaling pathway.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Protein / physiology
  • Animals
  • Colonic Neoplasms / physiopathology*
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / physiology*
  • Dinoprostone / physiology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Genes, APC / physiology
  • Humans
  • Prostaglandins / physiology*
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • Up-Regulation
  • Wnt Proteins / physiology
  • beta Catenin / physiology

Substances

  • Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Protein
  • Prostaglandins
  • Wnt Proteins
  • beta Catenin
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • Dinoprostone