PTGS2 and neoplasm: IL-1β released by tumor cells increases the expression of IL-1 and increases the level of phosphorylated IRAK1, which leads to the activation of NF-κB and the stimulation of important genes for the growth and spread of tumors such as IL-6, cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF), and (interferon regulatory factor-2 (IRF-2)(21).