Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) has been recognized as a potential target for cancer chemoprevention and, indeed, several prospective randomized clinical trials have demonstrated the effectiveness of celecoxib, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, in preventing formation or progression of adenomatous polyps of the colon. Celecoxib has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treatment of familial adenomatous polyposis coli. COX-2 is over-expressed in most human solid tumors and associated with a poor prognosis. COX-2 promotes tumor proliferation, angiogenesis, and invasion, inhibits apoptosis and has been associated with drug resistance and may, therefore, also be a good target for treatment of established cancer. Preliminary clinical studies suggest that patients with some COX-2 over-expressing tumors may benefit from the addition of celecoxib to conventional chemotherapy. This special symposium will review the biology of COX-2 and its potential as a therapeutic target in lung, colorectal, breast and pancreatic cancer.
Special Symposium: AACR/ASCO Symposium: COX-2 and Cancer Treatment

COX-2 and cancer biology; Raymond N. DuBois. UT M.D. Anderson Cancer Ctr., Houston, TX

Overview of COX-2 as a target for cancer treatment; Richard L. Schilsky. Univ. of Chicago, Chicago, IL

COX-2 in lung cancer: Rebirth of a target; Martin J. Edelman. Univ. of Maryland, Baltimore, MD

COX-2 as a target for the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer; Andrew T. Chan. Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA

Early epigenetic and genetic events in carcinogenesis; Thea D. Tlsty. University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA

A mouse model for COX-2 driven pancreatitis and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma; Susan M. Fischer. UT M.D. Anderson Cancer Ctr., Smithville, TX,