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Review
. 2013 Mar;35(2):123-37.
doi: 10.1007/s00281-012-0342-8. Epub 2012 Sep 21.

Multifaceted roles of PGE2 in inflammation and cancer

Masako Nakanishi  1 , Daniel W Rosenberg
Affiliations
Review

Multifaceted roles of PGE2 in inflammation and cancer

Masako Nakanishi et al. Semin Immunopathol. 2013 Mar.

Abstract

Prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) is a bioactive lipid that elicits a wide range of biological effects associated with inflammation and cancer. PGE(2) exerts diverse effects on cell proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, inflammation, and immune surveillance. This review concentrates primarily on gastrointestinal cancers, where the actions of PGE(2) are most prominent, most likely due to the constant exposure to dietary and environmental insults and the intrinsic role of PGE(2) in tissue homeostasis. A discussion of recent efforts to elucidate the complex and interconnected pathways that link PGE(2) signaling with inflammation and cancer is provided, supported by the abundant literature showing a protective effect of NSAIDs and the therapeutic efficacy of targeting mPGES-1 or EP receptors for cancer prevention. However, suppressing PGE(2) formation as a means of providing chemoprotection against all cancers may not ultimately be tenable, undoubtedly the situation for patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Future studies to fully understand the complex role of PGE(2) in both inflammation and cancer will be required to develop novel strategies for cancer prevention that are both effective and safe.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
PGE2 biosynthetic pathway
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Bipartite functions of PGE2 in inflammation and cancer
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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