Cyclooxygenase-2 in transitional cell carcinoma--a legitimate target?

摘要

Inhibitors of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) have received much attention in the press in recent years for their beneficial as well as adverse effects in patients. Drugs that selectively target COX-2 belong to a larger class of agents called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which includes aspirin, indomethacin and ibupro-fen. NSAIDs are among the most widely used drugs due to their analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, the antitumor activity shown by NSAIDs in experimental and clinical settings has been appreciated for many years, potentially expanding their use in medicine. The occurrence of serious side effects including gastric ulceration and renal toxicity led to the development of COX-2 selective inhibitors. However, despite their success in ameliorating the side effects, certain COX-2 specific inhibitors such as rofecoxib (Vioxx? have been withdrawn from clinical use due to the increased risk of adverse cardiovascular events associated with their use. Thus, the long-term usefulness and efficacy of COX-2 selective inhibitors remain uncertain.