Susan P. Lanza-Jacoby

1. Cyclooxygenase and breast cancer:

Cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitors and breast cancer.
Many studies have shown that regular use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin and ibuprofen is protective against colon cancer. Recently researchers are also finding that the NSAIDs may reduce the risk of breast cancer. The anti-tumor effect of NSAIDs may be due to their inhibitor effect on prostaglandins. Yet, recently studies have show that NSAIDs may increase apoptosis and inhibit angiogenesis. Elevated amounts of COX-2 have been found in human breast tumors, breast cancer cell lines, and animal mammary tumors. Thus, blocking COX-2 may be an important strategy in preventing the formation and growth of mammary tumors. The goal of thisstudy is to evaluate the effectiveness of specific COX-2 inhibitors in the prevention of breast tumors and to determine the mechanism for their beneficial effects.

Role of cyclooxygenase in atherosclerosis:
The protective role of the select COX-2 inhibitors in the treatment of disease continues to expand. Many investigators have suggested that immune activation may trigger the atherosclerotic process. The benefits of aspirin in preventing myocardial infarction have been attributed, in part, to its anti-inflammatory effects. Several reports have documented that COX-2 is upregulated in human and mouse atherosclerosis . Yet, the potential benefits of the select COX-2 inhibitors in reducing the extent of atherosclerosis are, for the most part, unknown. We are interested in evaluating whether COX-2 inhibitors prevent the progression of the atherosclerotic process.