PTGS2 and cancer: In an attempt to avoid these adverse effects and target specifically COX-2 for its participation in the neoplastic process, selective COX-2 inhibitors were designed and named as “coxibs.” Experimentally, both NSAIDs and coxibs have been shown to inhibit tumorigenesis by inhibiting cancer cell growth and proliferation, modulating apoptotic activity, reducing the metastatic and invasive potential of cells, and by inhibiting angiogenesis (223, 224).