Effects And Molecular Mechanisms Of COX-2 In Malignant Melanoma

Malignant melanoma is one of tumors of nonepithelial origin,whose incidence has strongly increased during the last few years. Complete surgical removal of the tumor is the primary curative treatment of malignant melanoma,whereas current systemic therapy for advanced melanoma, both chemotherapy and radiotherapy, remains unsatisfactory.Exploring a new way for melanoma therapy is of important significance. Cyclooxygenase(COX)-2 is an inducible enzyme involved in production of prostaglandins in inflammatory processes.It was found to be increased and to correlate with an aggressive course in a variety of cancers including lung, oesophageal,urinary bladder and gastric cancer,squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck,as well as skin, colon and breast cancer.Although the mechanisms whereby COX-2 contributes to carcinogenesis and tumor progression is largely unknown, COX-2 seems to play a causal role in many tumours.Up to now, there is insufficient data supporting the function of COX-2 in tumors of nonepithelial origin. Studies on controlling melanoma development via COX-2 inhibition are still at the beginning.To address this issue, we observed the protein expressions of COX-2 in intradermal nevi and malignant melanoma,and analyzed the clinical pathologic data.We also measured COX-2 protein levels in melanoma cell lines and normal human melanocytes. To...