COX-2 Inhibitors, APC and Colon Cancer Prevention

描述（由申请人提供）：APC肿瘤抑制基因突变导致FAP，在大约80%的散发性结直肠癌中检测到。功能性APC的缺失导致TCF/ β -连环蛋白介导的转录激活。该通路的激活改变了许多基因的表达，例如COX-2，这些基因与结直肠癌的发病机制有关。临床前和临床研究强调了COX-2作为预防和可能治疗结直肠癌的治疗靶点的潜在重要性。这项应用的长期目标是更好地了解APC、COX-2与结直肠癌发生之间的机制联系，以及选择性COX-2抑制剂的作用机制。我们已经证明β -连环蛋白信号的激活通过诱导COX-2和mPGES-1刺激前列腺素的生物合成。值得注意的是，TCF/ β -catenin信号通路的解除刺激了这两个基因的转录，稳定了COX-2 mRNA，同时阻断了其翻译。EGFR/Ras信号的激活，是结直肠肿瘤的一个常见事件，缓解了这种翻译障碍。在一个目标中，我们将定义这些效应背后的机制。第二个目标将是表征cox -2衍生产品对下游途径的影响，这些途径与致癌有关。初步证据表明，PGE2和TXA2激活TCF/ β -连环蛋白介导的转录和EGFR信号，表明这些途径之间存在串扰。此外，PGE2和TXA2改变了TCF/ β -catenin靶基因的转录后控制，表明类二十烷醇通过多种机制影响细胞生长。最后，我们已经证明塞来昔布通过一个不依赖COX-2的机制使失调的TCF/ β -连环蛋白介导的转录“正常化”。因此，第三个目标将是进行额外的体外和体内研究，以进一步评估这些影响。这些研究将增强我们对COX-2与结直肠癌之间机制联系的理解，并可能帮助我们优化选择性COX-2抑制剂作为治疗方法的使用。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Mutations in the APC tumor suppressor gene cause FAP and are detected in approximately 80% of sporadic colorectal cancers. A loss of functional APC results in activation of TCF/Beta-catenin-mediated transcription. Activation of this pathway alters the expression of numerous genes, e.g., COX-2, that have been implicated in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer. Preclinical and clinical studies have highlighted the potential importance of COX-2 as a therapeutic target for preventing and possibly treating colorectal cancer. The long-term objective of this application is to better understand the mechanistic link between APC, COX-2 and colorectal carcinogenesis as well as the mechanism(s) of action of selective COX-2 inhibitors. We have shown that activation of Beta-catenin signaling stimulates prostanoid biosynthesis by inducing COX-2 and mPGES-1. Notably, deregulated TCF/Beta-catenin signaling stimulated the transcription of both genes, stabilized COX-2 mRNA while blocking its translation. Activation of EGFR/Ras signaling, a common event in colorectal neoplasia, relieved this translational block. In one aim, we will define the mechanisms underlying these effects. A second aim will be to characterize the effects of COX-2-derived products on downstream pathways that have been implicated in carcinogenesis. This aim is supported by preliminary evidence that PGE2 and TXA2 activate TCF/Beta-catenin-mediated transcription and EGFR signaling suggesting cross-talk between these pathways. Additionally, PGE2 and TXA2 altered the post-transcriptional control of TCF/Beta-catenin target genes suggesting that eicosanoids affect cell growth by multiple mechanisms. Finally, we have shown that celecoxib "normalizes" deregulated TCF/Beta-catenin-mediated transcription by a COX-2- independent mechanism. Hence, a third aim will be to perform additional in vitro and in vivo studies to further evaluate these effects. These studies will enhance our understanding of the mechanistic link between COX-2 and colorectal cancer and potentially assist us in optimizing the use of selective COX-2 inhibitors as therapy.