Basal cell carcinoma and Cyclooxygenase: Translation to the Clinic

• Authors: Jack Arbiser, Emory University
• Journal Title: Cancer Prevention Research
• Volume: Volume 3, Number 1
• Publisher: American Association for Cancer Research | 2010-01, Pages 4-7
• Type of Work: Article | Post-print: After Peer Review
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-09-0246
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Oncology

Abstract

Tang et al demonstrate a pivotal role of the cyclooxygenase (COX) enzyme pathway in the pathogenesis of basal cell carcinoma in mice, with elegant experiments in mice overexpressing COX-1 and COX-2 or in mice deficient in COX-1 and 2 showing an increase or decrease respectively in mice bearing the basal call carcinoma prone patch heterozygote background. They followed the murine findings with a study in humans with loss of patch and found a trend towards decreased tumor burden of BCC in humans. This has implications for public health.