Double-Edged Drugs: Anti-inflammatories’ cancer effects vary by brand and tissue type

Two new studies on medications being investigated as cancer treatments indicate that certain of these drugs have secondary effects that could enhance or undermine their antitumor activity. These compounds, which inhibit the inflammatory enzyme cyclooxygenase-2, or COX-2, are currently used to treat pain and arthritis. Researchers have now found that one such drug surprisingly accelerates the growth of some pancreatic tumors.