Recent advances in inducible cyclooxygenase (COX-2) inhibition

Cyclooxygenase is the key enzyme in the biosynthesis of prostanoids, biolog ically active substances that are involved in several physiological process es but also in pathological conditions such as inflammation. Since ten year s now, it is well known that this enzyme exists under two forms: a constitu tive (COX-I) and an inducible form (COX-2). Both enzymes are sensitive to i nhibition by conventional nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Obs ervations that COX-1, involved in several homeostatic processes, played a h ousekeeping role while COX-2 expression was associated with inflammation an d other pathologies such as cancer proliferation have led to the developmen t of COX-2 selective inhibitors in order to reduce the classical side-effec ts, of which gastric irritation is the most common, associated with the use of conventional NSAIDs.