COX-2 as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target in melanoma

• Published in: Cancer biology & medicine Vol. 17; no. 1; pp. 20 - 31
• Main Authors: Tudor, Diana Valentina, Bâldea, Ioana, Lupu, Mihai, Kacso, Teodor, Kutasi, Eniko, Hopârtean, Andreea, Stretea, Roland, Gabriela Filip, Adriana
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: China Chinese Anti-Cancer Association (CACA), Cancer Biology & Medicine 15-02-2020; Department of Physiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Iuliu Ha(t)ieganu", Cluj-Napoca 400000, Romania; Compuscript; China Anti-Cancer Association
• Subjects: Angiogenesis; Animals; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - pharmacology; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - therapeutic use; Apoptosis; Biomarkers, Tumor - analysis; Biomarkers, Tumor - metabolism; Cancer immunotherapy; Celecoxib; Celecoxib - pharmacology; Celecoxib - therapeutic use; Clinical Trials as Topic; cox-2; cox-2 inhibitors; Cyclooxygenase 2 - analysis; Cyclooxygenase 2 - metabolism; Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors - pharmacology; Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Cyclooxygenase-2; Disease Models, Animal; Disease Progression; Epidermal growth factor; Humans; Immunosuppression; Inflammation; Kinases; Melanoma; Melanoma - drug therapy; Melanoma - immunology; Melanoma - mortality; Melanoma - pathology; Molecular Targeted Therapy - methods; Oncology; Prognosis; Progression-Free Survival; Review; Signal Transduction - drug effects; Signal Transduction - immunology; Skin - immunology; Skin - pathology; Skin cancer; Skin Neoplasms - drug therapy; Skin Neoplasms - immunology; Skin Neoplasms - mortality; Skin Neoplasms - pathology; Tumor cells; Tumor Escape - drug effects; Tumor Microenvironment - drug effects; Tumor Microenvironment - immunology; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF; COX-2 inhibitors; COX-2; celecoxib; inflammation; Melanoma; inflammation,COX-2
• ISSN: 2095-3941
• DOI: 10.20892/j.issn.2095-3941.2019.0339

With a constantly increasing incidence, cutaneous melanoma has raised the need for a better understanding of its complex microenvironment that may further guide therapeutic options. Melanoma is a model tumor in immuno-oncology. Inflammation represents an important hallmark of cancer capable of inducing and sustaining tumor development. The inflammatory process also orchestrates the adaptative immunosuppression of tumor cells that helps them to evade immune destruction. Besides its role in proliferation, angiogenesis, and apoptosis, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is a well-known promoter of immune suppression in melanoma. COX-2 inhibitors are closely involved in this condition. This review attempts to answer two controversial questions: is COX-2 a valuable prognostic factor? Among all COX-2 inhibitors, is celecoxib a suitable adjuvant in melanoma therapy?