Increased levels of COX-2 and prostaglandin E2 contribute to elevated aromatase expression in inflamed breast tissue of obese women

We show that obesity-associated inflammatory foci in the human breast are associated with elevated COX-2 levels and activation of the PGE2 → cAMP → PKA signal transduction pathway resulting in increased aromatase expression. These findings help to explain the link among obesity, low-grade chronic inflammation, and breast cancer with important clinical implications.