FIGURE 1.

Arachidonic acid is converted to prostaglandins by action of cyclooxygenase 1 and 2 Cox-1 and Cox-2 enzymes. Cox-1 is important for maintaining homeostatic functions of body like platelet formation for blood, kidney development and its functions, maintenance of gastric mucosa etc. Cox-2 derived prostaglandin PGE₂ is associated with increased inflammation, increased angiogenesis, greater metastatic and proliferative invasion, reduction in apoptosis and formation of immunosuppressive microenvironment. NSAIDs function as cox inhibitors and serve as effective tool against Cox mediated cancer. Aspirin and several other dual acting NSAIDs, which can block both Cox-1 and Cox-2 pathway, have several limitations and side effects associated with them and thus there was a need to develop Cox-2 specific inhibitors. NSAIDs reduce incidences of cancer by increasing apoptosis of tumor tissue, maintaining anti-tumor microenvironment, reducing proliferation and angiogenesis