Its efficacy extended to a reduction in the relative tumor weight with 1.70 and 1.51-fold compared to positive control and free ETD, that manifested by a 1.72-fold reduction in both COX-2 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen mRNA (PCNA-mRNA) levels and 2.63-fold elevation in caspase-3 level in skin tumors relative to the positive control group with no hepato-and nephrotoxicity.
The positive expression rate of COX-2 in 55 skin tumors (45.5 %) was significantly higher than that in normal skin tissues (5 %) (χ (2) = 10.598 %, P < 0.05).
Luciferase activity was non-invasively, quantitatively and repeatedly monitored in Cox-2(luc/+) mice subjected to DMBA/TPA multistage skin tumor induction.
Together, these data demonstrate acute upregulation of COX-2 via UVB irradiation and suggest the need for further studies of COX-2 expression as a potential pharmacological target mediating human skin tumor development.