Role of p53 in the induction of cyclooxygenase-2 by cisplatin or paclitaxel in non-small cell lung cancer cell lines.

Non-small cell lung Cancer (NSCLC) is extremely resistant to chemotherapeutic agents, such as cisplatin. High expression of the inflammatory enzyme cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) has been shown to inhibit chemotherapy-induced apoptosis, but little is known about COX-2 regulation upon drug treatment. Recent data indicate the tumor suppressor protein p53 as an important regulator of COX-2.