Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Schuon, R.
• Brieger, J.
• Franke, R.-L.
• Jakob, R.
• Mann, W.J.

Titel

Increased PGE2 Levels in Nonmalignant Mucosa Adjacent to Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

Ist Teil von

• O.R.L. Journal for oto-rhino-laryngology and its related specialties, 2005, Vol.67 (2), p.96-100

Ort / Verlag

Basel, Switzerland: Karger

Erscheinungsjahr

2005

Quelle

MEDLINE

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Objective: The cyclooxygenases (COX) 1 and 2 are the rate-limiting enzymes of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) synthesis, and the upregulation of COX-2 has been reported in tumors of different origins. The aim of our study was to quantify the PGE2 expression in squamous cell carcinoma and surrounding mucosa, to analyze the potential of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) for reducing PGE2 levels in these tissues, and to improve our understanding of potential tumor-derived stimulation of surrounding mucosa by PGE2. Study Design and Setting: Intracellular PGE2 levels in primary head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and the surrounding mucosa at 1 and 2 cm distance were analyzed ex vivo by ELISA. Subsequently, we treated in vitro tumor and normal mucosal cells from turbinates with recombinant PGE2 and ASA, and quantified intracellular PGE2 levels. Results: We observed high PGE2 levels in the tumor samples and in tumor-surrounding mucosa. The addition of PGE2 and arachidonic acid to tumor cell cultures resulted in no further increase in intracellular PGE2 levels, while ASA reduced PGE2 levels by up to 40%. In normal epithelial cell cultures, less PGE2 (6% of that found in the tumor cells) was expressed, but stimulation with PGE2 resulted in levels comparable to those of the tumor samples. Conclusion and Significance: We conclude that HNSCC and the surrounding mucosa express high levels of PGE2. This expression is reduced efficiently by ASA. We propose a stimulation of PGE2 expression in the epithelium surrounding HNSCC by tumor-derived PGE2 with a potential impact on tumor growth.