Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibition Prevents Migration of Colorectal Cancer Cells to Extracellular Matrix by Down-Regulation of Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 Expression

Purpose Matrix metalloproteinases-2 hydrolyses gelatins and collagens. It has many biologic functions, including cancer cells invasion. Overexpression of cyclooxygenase-2 is known to be involved in colorectal carcinogenesis, although the mechanism is unclear. Up-regulation of matrix metalloproteinases-2 expression may be one of the mechanisms, which explains how cyclooxygenase-2 expression promotes migration of colorectal cancer cells to extracellular matrix.