S-nitrosylated COX-2 is a microenvironment-regulated breast cancer cell biomarker of mesenchymal phenotypes.

ABSTRACT: COX-2, an inducible enzyme key to production of inflammatory prostaglandins, has tumor cell-intrinsic oncogenic activity. Previously, we reported Cys-526-nitrosylated COX-2 (SNO-COX-2) associates with breast cancer progression and poor-prognostic young onset breast cancer. Here, using a 3D culture model of early-stage human breast cancer (MCF10DCIS cells), we report SNO-COX-2, but not non-nitrosylated COX-2, closely associated with mesenchymal cell phenotypes induced by fibrillar Col1. Inhibition of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity did not reduce SNO-COX-2 levels, suggesting alternative nitrosylation mechanisms. In 3D MCF10DCIS culture, mesenchymal phenotypes and SNO-COX-2 protein induced by Col1 did not associate with transcription of classic epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)

SUBMITTER: Hoffmann RJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12861336 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature