Abstracts
An Investigation Into The Mechanism of Action Surrounding the Anti-Tumor Properties of the Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug, Sodium Salicylate.
Sodium Salicylate is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug with demonstrated cytotoxic effects against colon carcinomas. Although the anti-inflammatory properties of sodium salicylate are well documented, a concensus has not been reached concerning the mechanism of this drug, particularly with respect to its anti-cancer properties. While some research has focused on the ability of sodium salicylate to inhibit the cyclooxygenase-2 (cox-2) enzyme, other research has argued against a cox-2 dependent pathway. My research studies involved an analysis of the cytotoxic effects of sodium salicylate in colon tumor cells expressing high levels of the cox-2 enzyme and normal colon cells in which high levels of cox-2 expression could be induced by treatment with interleukin-1. The role of arachidonic acid in sodium salicylate mediated apoptosis was also examined. Finally, my research studies have investigated the combined use of sodium salicylate and tributyrin on the treatment of colon tumor cells.