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Current Medicinal Chemistry

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 0929-8673
ISSN (Online): 1875-533X

Radiotracers for Molecular Imaging of Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) Enzyme

Author(s): O. Tietz, A. Marshall, M. Wuest, M. Wang and F. Wuest

Volume 20, Issue 35, 2013

Page: [4350 - 4369] Pages: 20

DOI: 10.2174/09298673113206660260

Price: $65

Abstract

Cyclooxygenase (COX) enzyme is responsible for the formation of important biological mediators including prostaglandins, prostacyclin and thromboxane to trigger many physiological and patho-physiological responses. COXs exist in two distinct isoforms, a constitutively expressed form (COX-1) and an inducible form (COX-2). COX-2 is involved in the body’s response to inflammation and pain. Moreover, it has also been shown that COX-2 is overexpressed in many human cancers, and that COX-2 is involved in various neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. COX-2 inhibitors are among the most widely used therapeutics for the treatment of chronic and acute pain and inflammation. Non-invasive monitoring of COX-2 functional expression by means of nuclear molecular imaging techniques like positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) might provide unique opportunities to obtain data on COX-2 expression levels during disease manifestation and progression to study potential roles of COX-2 under various pathological conditions. The present review summarizes recent research efforts directed to the design and synthesis of radiotracers as molecular probes with special emphasis on COX-2 imaging.

Keywords: Cyclooxygenase-2, radiotracer, molecular imaging, positron emission tomography, single photon emission computed tomography.


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