What is it about?
It is well known that long-term, chronic inflammation leads to cancer. Examples are Barrett’s esophagus leading to esophageal adenocarcinoma, Helicobacter pylori-driven gastric ulcers leading to gastric cancer, and chronic long-term ulcerative colitis leading to colon cancer. Even obesity chronically activates the immune system, causing breast cancer. This article outlines the many ways that the enzyme COX-2 participates in the maintenance of chronic inflammation and cancer initiation and progression.
Featured Image
Why is it important?
In any biological setting, better understanding a key pathway which leads to disease, in this case, characterizing the role of COX-2 in inflammation and carcinogenesis, will lead to more directed and effective therapies.
Perspectives
This article was written during my recent maternity hiatus, and drew upon collaborative links I maintained from previous employment. It also covers mammographic density concepts - which is my current research focus.
Dr Honor J Hugo
Queensland University of Technology
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: New Insights on COX-2 in Chronic Inflammation Driving Breast Cancer Growth and Metastasis, Journal of Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia, July 2015, Springer Science + Business Media,
DOI: 10.1007/s10911-015-9333-4.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
