Mohammad Shafiei - School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Fatemeh Dehghani - Department of Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Mohammad Amin Dehghani - Student Research Committee of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

Background and aim: Colorectal cancer (CRC) accounts for third global incidence rate of human malignancies, whose development and progression occur significantly by Cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) as currently is considered to be a molecular target in tumor promotion during CRC progression. Specific COX-2 inhibitors can reportedly act an effective strategy to prevent and treat the human CRC. Materials and methods: The recently published articles in English were searched on PubMed database as well as findings presented at recent meetings were reviewed using keywords of Colorectal cancer, COX-2 inhibitors, clinical trials and treatment strategies. Results: The mortality rate of CRC patients has shown a reduction following the administration of selective COX-2 inhibitors before and after diagnosis of CRC. The incidence of certain cancers has been decreased by taking prophylactic Cox-2 inhibitors, including aspirin. The risk of adenoma and cancer was reduced in patients with familial CRC owing to the use of COX-2 (cyclooxygenase; prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase-2 [PTGS2]) inhibitors during several randomized trials. Moreover, a reduction has been reported in polyp burden in individuals with FAP because of selective COX-2 inhibitors. The study of potent COX-2 inhibitors alone or in combination with other therapeutic agents is clinically ongoing to prevent polyp formation and to treat CRC among the general population. Conclusion: the results showed that CRC prophylaxis or therapy can be achieved through COX-2 inhibitors. However, there are needs for additional research to investigate the effectiveness of COX-2 inhibitors combined with other standard CRC treatment strategies before clinical measures.

Colorectal cancer, COX-2 inhibitors, clinical trials, treatment strategies