pDRIVE-COX-2

COX-2 promoter in pDRIVE expression plasmid

COX-2 is an inducible isoform of cyclooxygenase. The expression of COX-2 is undetectable under physiological conditions but up-regulated in many malignant tumors.

COX-2, which is a PKC-dependent gene, is important for the genesis of cancer. COX-2 promoter contains a cAMP response element and sites for AP-2 and NF-κB that are both PKC-responsive cis-elements.

COX-2 promoter has been used to target gene expression in pancreatic [1], gastrointestinal [2] and ovarian cancers. Similar levels of expression of luciferase and HSVtk genes were obtained with COX-2 and CMV promoters.

References:

1. Wesseling JG et al. 2001. Midkine and cyclooxygenase-2 promoters are promising for adenoviral vector gene delivery of pancreatic carcinoma. Cancer Gene Ther 8(12):990-6.
2. Yamamoto M et al. 2001. Characterization of the cyclooxygenase-2 promoter in an adenoviral vector and its application for the mitigation of toxicity in suicide gene therapy ofgastrointestinal cancers. Mol Ther. 3(3):385-94.