Although COX-2 is known to mediate the growth and progression of several human cancers including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the role of mPGES-1 in hepatocarcinogenesis is not well established.
The contribution of COX-2-dependent PGs to the development of DEN-induced hepatocarcinogenesis was evaluated in Tg mice, Tg hepatocyte-like cells, and nude mice and the analysis revealed that COX-2 expression favors the development of preneoplastic foci without affecting malignant transformation.