Issues

Melanoma remains a major challenge in the cancer prevention field, and there are conflicting epidemiologic data on whether chronic aspirin (ASA) use may reduce melanoma risk in humans. Potential anti-cancer effects of ASA may be mediated by its ability to suppress prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) production and activate 5′-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK). In the current study, the inhibitory effects of ASA was investigated in a panel of melanoma and transformed melanocyte cell lines and on growth of human tumor xenografts in a preclinical model. The micrograph images show staining (brown) of proliferating tumor cells from mice treated by daily gavage with water (inset) or ASA (cover image). These cells are less prevalent in tumors from the ASA-treated mice. The tumors from ASA-treated animals also expressed lower levels of PGE₂ and higher levels of phosphorylated AMPK (not shown). See the article by Kumar et al. (beginning on page 629) for more information.