Do nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs have direct tumor effects?
Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are useful for tumor-induced pain, partially because of their effects on the inflammatory substrate at the tumor margins. Bone metastases require prostaglandin E2 for growth; NSAIDs inhibit prostaglandin synthesis and thus may decrease osteoblastic tumor proliferation. The use of NSAIDs is, however, limited by its potential effect of reducing renal function and gastrotoxicity, as well as the class-wide black box warning regarding cardiovascular risk, including myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke.
