Both preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated promising results of the role of celecoxib in the treatment and prevention of cancer - the best outcome was observed in colon, breast, prostate and head and neck cancers. However, more clinical trials providing real evidence-based clinical advances of celecoxib use are needed.

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma remains a significant worldwide public health challenge, associated with high morbidity and mortality. Treatment of this type of cancer lacks effective medication. Moreover, there are very few specific biomarkers that are useful in early diagnosis or treatment optimisation. Proline metabolism may prove to be of importance in the search for new treatment modalities. Methods: To evaluate the significance of proline metabolism in the development of oral cancer, proline concentration was assessed in oral cancer tissue and normal oral mucosa. The results were compared to the clinical stage and histological grade of the tumours. Moreover, the expression of proteins involved in proline metabolism via proline dehydrogenase/oxidase (PRODH/POX, PPARγ, HIF1-α) was determined. In the next stage of the study, conducted on cell lines of tongue cancer treated with celecoxib, the aforementioned factors involved in proline metabolism were evaluated. Cellular viability and cell proliferation, as well as apoptosis, were also assessed. Results: Our research results indicate that a high intracellular proline concentration and expression of factors involved in its metabolism correlate with the clinical stage and histological grade of oral cancer. Moreover, we are the first researchers to demonstrate that celecoxib can affect proline metabolism, causing an increase in pro-apoptotic factors (PRODH/POX, PPARγ), reducing the expression of HIF-1α and activating apoptosis. Conclusions: Proline metabolism, due to its involvement in the process of apoptosis, can be of great importance in anticancer therapy. It appears that celecoxib, which influences the PRODH/POX pathway, may be a promising therapeutic compound in oral cancer treatment.

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Metronidazole (2-(2-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazol-1-yl)ethanol) is one of the most commonly prescribed antibacterial and antiprotozoal medications worldwide. For over 50 years it has been widely utilised in the treatment of numerous diseases such as anaerobic bacterial infections (Bacteroides, Fusobacterium, Clostridium, Peptostreptococcus or Prevotella species), trichomoniasis, bacterial vagi-nosis, enteritis infectious, Crohnís disease, endocarditis, aspiration pneumonia, periodontitis, amoebic dysentery, Helicobacter pylori or Giardia lamblia infections. It has been included in perioperative prevention protocols for bowel or head and neck surgeries as well (1, 2, 3). Moreover, it has been used is cancer treatment, with both radiotherapy and chemotherapy, making both treatment modalities PHARMACOLOGY