Elevated tumor cyclooxygenase (COX-2) expression is associated with increas
ed angiogenesis, tumor invasion, and suppression of host immunity. We have
previously shown that genetic inhibition of tumor COX-2 expression reverses
the immunosuppression induced by nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). To ass
ess the impact of COX-2 expression in lung cancer invasiveness, NSCLC cell
lines were transduced with a retroviral vector expressing the human COX-2 c
DNA in the sense (COX-2-S) and antisense (COX-2-AS) orientations. COX-2-S c
lones expressed significantly more COX-2 protein, produced 10-fold more pro
staglandin E-2, and demonstrated an enhanced invasive capacity compared wit
h control vector-transduced or parental cells. CD44, the cell surface recep
tor for hyaluronate, was overexpressed in COX-2-S cells, and specific block
ade of CD44 significantly decreased tumor cell invasion. In contrast, COX-2
-AS clones had a very limited capacity for invasion and showed diminished e
xpression of CD44. These findings suggest that a COX-2-mediated, CD44-depen
dent pathway is operative in NSCLC invasion. Because tumor COX-2 expression
appears to have a multifaceted role in conferring the malignant phenotype,
COX-2 may be an important target for gene or pharmacologic therapy in NSCL
C.