[Overexpression of COX-2 and a potential clinical application of its inhibitors in lung cancer].

It has been shown that a significantly increased expression of COX-2 is frequently present in lung cancers. Recent studies suggested that an increase in the expression of COX-2 may play a significant role in carcinogenesis in addition to its well-known role in inflammatory reactions. Interestingly, increased COX-2 expression was associated with a shortened survival of patients who underwent surgical resection of early stage adenocarcinoma, while several lines of in vitro and in vivo evidence suggest its potential role in invasion and metastasis. These findings suggest that the use of a selective COX-2 inhibitor may be a promising therapeutic approach in the treatment of lung cancer.