Biomaterial Database

COX-2, VEGF and tumour angiogenesis. 2009

D P Toomey, and J F Murphy, and K C Conlon

Professorial Surgical Unit, University of Dublin, Trinity College, The Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, Adelaide & Meath Hospital Inc. NCH, Tallaght, Dublin, Ireland.

Epidemiological evidence suggests a protective effective of regular NSAID use against developing cancer. Cyclooxygenase-2, a target of NSAIDs, is upregulated in many cancers and has been associated with increased VEGF production and angiogenesis. Angiogenesis is the formation of new vessels from existing vasculature and as an essential process for tumour development represents an important therapeutic target. Following an extensive review of the literature this article details the current knowledge on the role of COX-2 in tumorigenesis focusing on its relationship to angiogenesis and VEGF production by tumour cells. While COX-2 is clearly detrimental to prognosis and NSAIDs have a beneficial effect, the possibility of COX-2 independent effects being partly or wholly responsible for this benefit cannot be excluded.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009369	Neoplasms	New abnormal growth of tissue. Malignant neoplasms show a greater degree of anaplasia and have the properties of invasion and metastasis, compared to benign neoplasms.	Benign Neoplasm,Cancer,Malignant Neoplasm,Tumor,Tumors,Benign Neoplasms,Malignancy,Malignant Neoplasms,Neoplasia,Neoplasm,Neoplasms, Benign,Cancers,Malignancies,Neoplasias,Neoplasm, Benign,Neoplasm, Malignant,Neoplasms, Malignant
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000894	Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal	Anti-inflammatory agents that are non-steroidal in nature. In addition to anti-inflammatory actions, they have analgesic, antipyretic, and platelet-inhibitory actions. They act by blocking the synthesis of prostaglandins by inhibiting cyclooxygenase, which converts arachidonic acid to cyclic endoperoxides, precursors of prostaglandins. Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis accounts for their analgesic, antipyretic, and platelet-inhibitory actions; other mechanisms may contribute to their anti-inflammatory effects.	Analgesics, Anti-Inflammatory,Aspirin-Like Agent,Aspirin-Like Agents,NSAID,Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agent,Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agents,Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agent,Anti Inflammatory Agents, Nonsteroidal,Antiinflammatory Agents, Non Steroidal,Antiinflammatory Agents, Nonsteroidal,NSAIDs,Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agents,Agent, Aspirin-Like,Agent, Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory,Agent, Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory,Anti-Inflammatory Agent, Non-Steroidal,Anti-Inflammatory Agent, Nonsteroidal,Anti-Inflammatory Analgesics,Aspirin Like Agent,Aspirin Like Agents,Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Agent,Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Agents,Nonsteroidal Anti Inflammatory Agent,Nonsteroidal Anti Inflammatory Agents,Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Agents
D015232	Dinoprostone	The most common and most biologically active of the mammalian prostaglandins. It exhibits most biological activities characteristic of prostaglandins and has been used extensively as an oxytocic agent. The compound also displays a protective effect on the intestinal mucosa.	PGE2,PGE2alpha,Prostaglandin E2,Prostaglandin E2alpha,PGE2 alpha,Prepidil Gel,Prostaglandin E2 alpha,Prostenon,E2 alpha, Prostaglandin,E2, Prostaglandin,E2alpha, Prostaglandin,Gel, Prepidil,alpha, PGE2,alpha, Prostaglandin E2
D015854	Up-Regulation	A positive regulatory effect on physiological processes at the molecular, cellular, or systemic level. At the molecular level, the major regulatory sites include membrane receptors, genes (GENE EXPRESSION REGULATION), mRNAs (RNA, MESSENGER), and proteins.	Receptor Up-Regulation,Upregulation,Up-Regulation (Physiology),Up Regulation
D042461	Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A	The original member of the family of endothelial cell growth factors referred to as VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTORS. Vascular endothelial growth factor-A was originally isolated from tumor cells and referred to as "tumor angiogenesis factor" and "vascular permeability factor". Although expressed at high levels in certain tumor-derived cells it is produced by a wide variety of cell types. In addition to stimulating vascular growth and vascular permeability it may play a role in stimulating VASODILATION via NITRIC OXIDE-dependent pathways. Alternative splicing of the mRNA for vascular endothelial growth factor A results in several isoforms of the protein being produced.	Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor,Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-A,GD-VEGF,Glioma-Derived Vascular Endothelial Cell Growth Factor,VEGF,VEGF-A,Vascular Permeability Factor,Vasculotropin,Glioma Derived Vascular Endothelial Cell Growth Factor,Permeability Factor, Vascular
D051546	Cyclooxygenase 2	An inducibly-expressed subtype of prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase. It plays an important role in many cellular processes and INFLAMMATION. It is the target of COX2 INHIBITORS.	COX-2 Prostaglandin Synthase,Cyclo-Oxygenase II,Cyclooxygenase-2,PGHS-2,PTGS2,Prostaglandin H Synthase-2,COX 2 Prostaglandin Synthase,Cyclo Oxygenase II,Prostaglandin H Synthase 2,Prostaglandin Synthase, COX-2,Synthase, COX-2 Prostaglandin
D018919	Neovascularization, Physiologic	The development of new BLOOD VESSELS during the restoration of BLOOD CIRCULATION during the healing process.	Angiogenesis, Physiologic,Angiogenesis, Physiological,Neovascularization, Physiological,Physiologic Angiogenesis,Physiologic Neovascularization,Physiological Angiogenesis,Physiological Neovascularization