Regulation of HER-2 oncogene expression by cyclooxygenase-2 and prostaglandin E2

Oncogene. 2004 Feb 26;23(8):1631-5. doi: 10.1038/sj.onc.1207295.

Abstract

The oncoprotein HER-2/neu is a prosurvival factor and its overexpression has been correlated with adverse prognosis in breast cancers. High levels of the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), a proinflammatory and antiapoptotic enzyme, were detected in HER-2-positive tumors and this observation was linked to an HER-2-mediated induction of COX-2 gene transcription. Here, we report that COX-2 expression, and synthesis of its major enzymatic product, PGE2, leads in turn to an enhanced HER-2 expression. Moreover, COX-2 enzymatic inhibition dramatically reduced HER-2 protein levels, efficiently increased the cancer cells sensitility to chemotherapeutic treatment and acted in synergy with HER-2 inhibitor, trastuzumab. Therefore, we propose an original model where HER-2 and COX-2 transcriptionally regulate each other in a positive loop.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • Dinoprostone / biosynthesis*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Genes, erbB-2*
  • Humans
  • Isoenzymes / metabolism*
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Models, Genetic
  • Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / metabolism*
  • RNA, Messenger / analysis
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / genetics
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

Substances

  • Isoenzymes
  • Membrane Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • PTGS2 protein, human
  • Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases
  • Receptor, ErbB-2
  • Dinoprostone