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Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: dro
Post Number: 18820
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Tuesday, Jul 10, 2007 - 12:11 pm: |   |
In this study a correlation was found between the degree of aggressiveness and the presence of enzyme cyclooxygenase-2. Many of our newer NSAID's inhibit this enzyme and the study proposes inhibiting the enzyme might be therapeutic in some SCC's. Probably the best known would be naproxen but there is also now a COX-2 inhibitor approved for horses named EQUIOXX. Though the work is early it may be enough to recommend the use of these drugs following more traditional therapy to help prevent recurrence. For more on these drugs see Treatments and Medications for Horses ยป Anti-inflammatories (NSAID's, Steroids, Arthritis Rx).
DrO
J Vet Diagn Invest. 2007 Jul;19(4):436-9.
Cyclooxygenase-2 immunoreactivity in equine ocular squamous-cell carcinoma.
Rassnick KM, Njaa BL.
Department of Clinical Sciences, Box no\. 31, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine Ithaca, New York 14853\. kmr32@cornell.edu.
Squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common tumor in horses, and 40%-50% may occur in ocular and adnexal structures\. Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 is an inducible enzyme responsible for the production of prostaglandins that control cell growth and the development and progression of cancer\. Mechanisms responsible for the initial upregulation of COX-2 in neoplasia are unclear; prolonged sunlight exposure and mutations in the p53 gene may be possibilities\. Because the etiopathogenesis of ocular SCC in horses may involve ultraviolet sunlight and p53 mutations, the purpose of this study was to characterize the immunoreactivity of COX-2 in these tumors\. Cyclooxygenase-2 expression was found in 6 of 22 (27%) paraffin-embedded equine SCCs\. Cyclooxygenase-2 immunoreactivity was associated with the mitotic index (P < 0.001)\. Strategies to inhibit COX-2 by the use of topical or systemic COX-2 inhibitors might prove to be a safe and economical treatment in some horses with SCC. |
