PTGS2 and cervical carcinoma: In cervical cancer, the expression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), which is an enzyme involved in the production of proinflammatory prostaglandins, is upregulated 61, and the induction of COX-2 by HPV16 E5 through NF-κB and activator protein-1 (AP-1) has been demonstrated 62.